B7-H1 Expression in Cervical Cancer and Immune Response

Researchers in the Netherlands have explored the expression of B7-H1 and B7-DC in cervical carcinoma, examining their interaction with PD-1 on T cells. The study found that B7-H1 was expressed in 19% of tumors, while B7-DC was expressed in 29%. Notably, PD-1 was expressed by over half of both CD8+ T cells and CD4+Foxp3+ T cells, regardless of the tumor's expression of B7-H1 or B7-DC. The research team, led by R. Karim from Leiden University, also discovered that the presence of B7-H1 impaired the suppressive function of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells.

Key Takeaways:

• B7-H1 was expressed in 19% of cervical cancer tumors, while B7-DC was expressed in 29%.
• PD-1 was expressed by over half of both CD8+ T cells and CD4+Foxp3+ T cells, regardless of the tumor's B7-H1 or B7-DC expression.
• The presence of B7-H1 impaired the suppressive function of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in an in vitro assay.
• Patients with a relative excess of infiltrating regulatory T cells displayed better survival when their tumor was B7-H1 positive.
• PD-1 inhibition may have therapeutic potential in cervical cancer patients.

Statistics:

• 19% of cervical cancer tumors expressed B7-H1.
• 29% of cervical cancer tumors expressed B7-DC.
• Over 50% of CD8+ T cells and CD4+Foxp3+ T cells expressed PD-1.
• The presence of B7-H1 impaired 100% of CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T-cell suppressive function in a functional in vitro assay (results of one unspecified experiment).
• 115 patients were included in the study.

Sources:

• Karim et al. (2009). Tumor-Expressed B7-H1 and B7-DC in Relation to PD-1+T-Cell Infiltration and Survival of Patients with Cervical Carcinoma. Clinical Cancer Research, 15(20), 6341-6347.
• Karim, R., et al. (2009). Tumor-expressed B7-H1 and B7-DC in relation to PD-1+ T-cell infiltration and survival of patients with cervical carcinoma. Clinical Cancer Research, 15(20), 6341-7.