title: B7-H abnormalities in melanoma and clinical relevance.
abstract: Melanoma have been shown to escape immune surveillance by different mechanisms such as loss of HLA class I antigens, upregulation of nonclassical HLA-G antigen and Fas, increased secretion of immune suppressive cytokines and metabolites as well as altered expression of co-stimulatory and coinhibitory signals. Recently, an important role of B7-H1 and B7-H4 in the immune escape of melanoma has been described. High mRNA and/or protein expression levels of these coinhibitory molecules were detected in both melanoma cell lines and melanoma lesions when compared to melanocytes. However, their clinical relevance is currently controversially discussed regarding a correlation of B7-H family members with tumor grading and staging as well as survival of patients in melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Immunology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Seliger
mesh_terms: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D060887:B7 Antigens / Q000276:immunology*; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008545:Melanoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D060887:B7 Antigens