B7-H1 up-regulated expression in human pancreatic carcinoma tissue associates with tumor progression.
OBJECTIVE
Aberrant tumor cell B7-H1 expression, a member of B7 family that can predominantly stimulate interleukin 10 (IL-10) products, contributed to the tumor immune evasion and tumor progression. This study was designed to investigate the expression of B7-H1 and IL-10 in normal pancreas tissues and pancreatic carcinoma samples, and to evaluate clinical significance of B7-H1 expression in pancreatic carcinoma.


METHODS
First, the B7-H1 and IL-10 expression in 40 pancreatic carcinoma samples and 8 healthy pancreas specimens using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) and western-blotting was detected. Localization of B7-H1 and IL-10 was confirmed by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. Next, the association between B7-H1 expression and tumor differentiation and tumor stage was analyzed. Finally, the correlation between tumor-associated B7-H1 and IL-10 was evaluated.


RESULTS
Pancreatic carcinoma samples demonstrated the up-regulated expression of B7-H1 and IL-10 at mRNA and protein level compared with normal pancreas tissues. IHC staining revealed that B7-H1 and IL-10 was almost localized in tumor cells. Analysis of relationship between B7-H1 and tumor clinicopathological characteristics showed that B7-H1 expression was significantly associated with poor tumor differentiation (P < 0.01) and advanced tumor stage (P < 0.01). Meanwhile, tumor-associated B7-H1 expression was also correlated with IL-10 products (P < 0.01, R (2) = 0.6985, mRNA level; P < 0.01, R (2) = 0.7236, protein level) in tumor cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings for the first time demonstrated up-regulated B7-H1 expression in human pancreatic carcinoma tissues, which might play a role in tumor progression and invasiveness. This expression seemed to be related to the ability of B7-H1 to promoting IL-10 secretion.
Geng
Lei
L
Key Laboratory of Combined Multi-Organ Transplantation, Ministry of Public Health and Department of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
Huang
Dongsheng
D
Liu
Junwei
J
Qian
Yigang
Y
Deng
Junfang
J
Li
Donglin
D
Hu
Zhenhua
Z
Zhang
Jian
J
Jiang
Guoping
G
Zheng
Shusen
S
D015703:Antigens, CD / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D009385:Neoplastic Processes; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
D015703:Antigens, CD; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; C423236:CD274 protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016753:Interleukin-10