Effect of p-PAQR3Thr32 on PD-L1 expression and immune evasion in gastric cancer.

Abstract

e15571 Background: Therapies targeted to the immune checkpoint mediated by PD-1 and PD-L1 show antitumor activity in some solid tumors. We have now examined PD-L1 expression and its regulation in gastric cancer with p-PAQR3Thr32 protein. Methods: The expression of PD-L1 at the protein and mRNA levels in gastric cancer cell lines was examined by flow cytometry, real-time RT-PCR and western blot analysis, respectively. The expression of PD-L1 and p-PAQR3Thr32 protein in 319 surgically resected gastric cancer specimens was evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis. Results: The PD-L1 expression level was higher in gastric cancer cell lines positive for p-PAQR3Thr32 protein induced by glucose starvation than in those negative for the p-PAQR3Thr32 protein. Forced expression of p-PAQR3Thr32 protein in gastric cancer cells markedly increased PD-L1 expression, whereas endogenous PD-L1 expression in p-PAQR3Thr32 protein positive gastric cancer cells was attenuated by treatment with PAQR3 siRNAs. Furthermore, expression of PD-L1 was downregulated by inhibitors of the IRF1 and STAT1 in IFNs-PDL1 signaling pathway in gastric cancer cells positive for p-PAQR3Thr32 protein. At clinical tissue level, the expression level of PD-L1 was positively associated with the presence of p-PAQR3Thr32 protein in gastric cancer specimens. Moreover, the expression level of p-PAQR3Thr32 protein was negatively correlated with CD3, CD8, GZMA (CD8 T cell secretory factor) and positively correlated with CD68 (macrophage marker). Conclusions: Our findings that p-PAQR3Thr32 protein induced by glucose deficiency upregulate PD-L1 by activating IFNs-PDL1 signaling pathway in gastric cancer reveal a direct link between p-PAQR3Thr32 protein and PD-L1 expression. It is suggested that p-PAQR3Thr32 protein may be involved in tumor immunosuppression by inhibiting the proliferation and activity of CD8 T cells in gastric cancer tissues.