title: PD-L1 is a critical mediator of regulatory B cells and T cells in invasive breast cancer.
abstract: Regulatory T cells (Tregs), a key mediator in regulating anti-tumor immune suppression, tumor immune escape, metastasis and relapse, are considered an important therapeutic target in immunotherapy of human cancers. In the present investigation, elevated CD19+CD24+CD38+regulatory B cells (Bregs) were observed in PBMCs of invasive carcinoma of breast (IBCa) patients compared with that in patients with fibroadenoma (FIBma) or healthy individuals, and the positive correlation existed between Bregs and CD4+CD25+CD127-Tregs (r = 0.316, P = 0.001). We found that PD-L1 expression was higher on Bregs in IBCa patients compared with patients with FIBma or healthy individuals (P < 0.05, respectively), and that a tight correlation exists between CD19+CD24+CD38+PD-L1+Bregs and CD19+CD24+CD38+Bregs (r = 0.267, P = 0.007), poor TNM phases and up-regulated expression of PD-L1 on Bregs. The pattern of PD-1 expression on CD4+T cells indicated that high level of PD-1hiexpressed on CD4+CD25+CD127+effector T cells (P < 0.001). More importantly, the presence of PD-L1 on Bregs was positively correlated with Tregs (r = 0.299, P = 0.003), but negatively correlated with PD-1hieffector T cells (r = -0.22, P = 0.031). Together, results of the present study indicated that PD-L1 is an important molecule on Bregs, mediated the generation of Tregs in IBCa.
authors.affiliation: The Department of Pathology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.|Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Honggeng
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yuqiu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wan
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lan
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Zhangyu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 1055 Sanxiang Road, Suzhou 215004, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yecheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Department of Pathology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Jiqing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi Street, Suzhou, 215006, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Xueguang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405, USA.
authors.forename: Zemin
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: The Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou 215123, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Yueping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: The Department of Pathology, Medical College of Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, 215123, P. R. China.
authors.forename: Fang
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Xie
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D060151:B-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*; D060890:B7-H1 Antigen / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D008875:Middle Aged; D050378:T-Lymphocytes, Regulatory / Q000276:immunology*
chemical_list: D060890:B7-H1 Antigen; C423236:CD274 protein, human