The JAK/STAT pathway is involved in the upregulation of PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines

  • Authors:
    • Toshifumi Doi
    • Takeshi Ishikawa
    • Tetsuya Okayama
    • Kaname Oka
    • Katsura Mizushima
    • Tomoyo Yasuda
    • Naoyuki Sakamoto
    • Kazuhiro Katada
    • Kazuhiro Kamada
    • Kazuhiko Uchiyama
    • Osamu Handa
    • Tomohisa Takagi
    • Yuji Naito
    • Yoshito Itoh
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: January 23, 2017     https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2017.5399
  • Pages: 1545-1554
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Abstract

Although improvements in the chemotherapy modalities for pancreatic cancer have been realized, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies. New-generation cancer immunotherapy methods, such as blocking of the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway, are consistently being investigated to improve the survival of pancreatic cancer patients. In the present study, we evaluated the influence of anticancer agents 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine and paclitaxel on PD-L1 expression in human pancreatic cancer cell lines MIA PaCa-2 and AsPC-1 and in murine pancreatic cancer cell line Pan02. Additionally, we analyzed the molecular mechanisms that facilitated the regulation of PD-L1 expression in these cell lines. We observed that when AsPC-1, MIA PaCa-2 and Pan02 cells were stimulated by 5-fluorouracil, gemcitabine or paclitaxel, PD-L1 surface protein expression was enhanced. Similarly, the mRNA level of PD-L1 was upregulated in the AsPC-1 and Pan02 cells when stimulated by each of the three anticancer agents. The phosphorylation of STAT1 and an increase in total STAT1 were also observed in the AsPC-1 cells when stimulated by each anticancer agent. In response to JAK2 inhibitor treatment, PD-L1 upregulation induced by the anticancer agents was reduced in a dose-dependent manner. These results suggest that i) the JAK2/STAT1 pathway is involved in the anticancer agent-mediated PD-L1 transcription; and ii) the anticancer agents altered the tumor immune response which may induce tumor immune escape. These findings can have an influence on the design of treatments that combine chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
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March-2017
Volume 37 Issue 3

Print ISSN: 1021-335X
Online ISSN:1791-2431

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Spandidos Publications style
Doi T, Ishikawa T, Okayama T, Oka K, Mizushima K, Yasuda T, Sakamoto N, Katada K, Kamada K, Uchiyama K, Uchiyama K, et al: The JAK/STAT pathway is involved in the upregulation of PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Oncol Rep 37: 1545-1554, 2017
APA
Doi, T., Ishikawa, T., Okayama, T., Oka, K., Mizushima, K., Yasuda, T. ... Itoh, Y. (2017). The JAK/STAT pathway is involved in the upregulation of PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Oncology Reports, 37, 1545-1554. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2017.5399
MLA
Doi, T., Ishikawa, T., Okayama, T., Oka, K., Mizushima, K., Yasuda, T., Sakamoto, N., Katada, K., Kamada, K., Uchiyama, K., Handa, O., Takagi, T., Naito, Y., Itoh, Y."The JAK/STAT pathway is involved in the upregulation of PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines". Oncology Reports 37.3 (2017): 1545-1554.
Chicago
Doi, T., Ishikawa, T., Okayama, T., Oka, K., Mizushima, K., Yasuda, T., Sakamoto, N., Katada, K., Kamada, K., Uchiyama, K., Handa, O., Takagi, T., Naito, Y., Itoh, Y."The JAK/STAT pathway is involved in the upregulation of PD-L1 expression in pancreatic cancer cell lines". Oncology Reports 37, no. 3 (2017): 1545-1554. https://doi.org/10.3892/or.2017.5399