Inhibition of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway can induce upregulation of human leukocyte antigen class I without PD-L1-upregulation in contrast to interferon-? treatment.
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ABSTRACT: Recently, we reported that human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I expression is predominantly regulated by the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway as one of the oncogenic regulations of HLA class I expression. In the present study, we examined mechanisms of how HLA class I and PD-L1 are regulated by MAPK inhibitors and interferon-? (IFN-?). Furthermore, we evaluated the expression of major signal transduction molecules by Western blot and anti-tumor CTL activity by a cytotoxic assay when HLA class I and PD-L1 were modulated by MAPK inhibitors and/or IFN-?. As a result, we confirmed, as a more general phenomenon, that the inhibition of MAPK could upregulate HLA class I expression in a panel of human solid tumors (n = 26). Of note, we showed that MAPK inhibitors act on the upregulation of HLA class I expression through a different pathway from IFN-?; there was an additive effect in the upregulation of HLA class I when treated with the combination of MAPK inhibitors and IFN-?, and there was no overlapping activation of JAK2/STAT1 and Erk1/2 molecules when treated with either IFN-? or MAPK inhibitors. Furthermore, we showed that IFN-?-treatment impaired the tumor-specific CTL activity due to the upregulation of PD-L1 in spite of the upregulation of HLA class I, while MAPK inhibitors can augment the tumor-specific CTL activity due to the upregulated HLA class I without PD-L1 alterations. In conclusion, in addition to the original anti-proliferative activity, MAPK inhibitors may work toward the enhancement of T-cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity through the upregulation of HLA class I without the upregulation of PD-L1.
SUBMITTER: Mimura K
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4462358 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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