The role of genetic polymorphism within PD-L1 gene in cancer. Review

Experimental and Molecular Pathology
Agnieszka KulaElżbieta Świętochowska

Abstract

The maintenance of homeostasis of the immune system depends on the balance between excitatory and inhibitory signals. Programmed death ligand (PD-L1) is a molecule which downregulates the immune system targeting the programmed death receptor 1 (PD-1). Under physiological conditions, the receptor is constitutively expressed in lymphocytes. The PD-L1 / PD-1 pathway plays a key role in completing the immune response in the right way, preventing excessive stimulation of the cells of the immune system, protecting the organism against autoimmunity. Under pathological conditions PD-L1 expression may take place in tumor cells. Binding of PD-1 to its ligand on tumor cells suppresses T lymphocytes through a negative feedback. This mechanism allows abnormal cells to avoid destruction by the host immune system. The expression of PD-L1 in tumors has been described in many histological types of cancer: melanoma, lung cancer, breast and ovarian, pancreatic and esophagus adenocarcinoma, kidney tumors and bladder cancers as well as in hematopoietic malignancies. Many studies report a significant effect of PD-L1 polymorphisms on clinical parameters of patients. Studies of PD-L1 polymorphisms showed their influence on the stage of cancer, effecti...Continue Reading

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