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Enhanced programmed death 1 (PD-1) and PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression in patients with actinic cheilitis and oral squamous cell carcinoma

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Abstract

PD-1 and PD-L1 can be involved in tumor escape, and little is known about the role of these molecules in oral tumors or pre-malignant lesions. In the present study, we investigated the expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in the blood and lesion samples of patients with actinic cheilitis (AC) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Our results showed that lymphocytes from peripheral blood and tissue samples exhibited high expression of PD-1 in both groups analyzed. Patients with AC presented higher percentage as well as the absolute numbers of CD4+PD-1+ and CD8+PD-1+ lymphocytes in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) than healthy individuals, while patients with OSCC presented an increased frequency of CD8+PD1+ in PBMC when compared with controls. On the other hand, increased frequency of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells expressing PD-1+ accumulate in samples from OSCC, and the expression of PD-L1 was intense in OSCC and moderate in AC lesion sites. Lower levels of IFN-γ and higher levels of TGF-β were detected in OSCC samples. Our data demonstrate that PD-1 and PD-L1 molecules are present in blood and samples of AC and OSCC patients. Further studies are required to understand the significance of PD-1 and PD-L1 in oral tumors microenvironment.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Márcia Graeff, Marcimara Penitenti and Thiago José Dionísio for their technical assistance. We also would like to thank Professor Carlos Ferreira dos Santos for his helpful comments during the preparation of this research, FAPESP for financial support, and the patients for their donation of tissue and blood samples. This work was supported by FAPESP and CAPES.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Al. Octávio Pinheiro Brisolla, 9-75, Bauru, SP, CEP 17012-901, Brazil

    Tatiana Salles de Souza Malaspina, Thaís Helena Gasparoto, Gustavo Pompermaier Garlet & Ana Paula Campanelli

  2. Department of Stomatology, Bauru School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil

    José Humberto Damante

  3. Dermatology and Research Division, Institute Lauro de Souza Lima, Bauru, SP, Brazil

    Maria Renata Sales Nogueira Costa & Edgard Franco de Melo Jr

  4. Amaral Carvalho Hospital, Jaú, SP, Brazil

    Maura Rosane Valério Ikoma

  5. Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, School of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil

    João Santana da Silva

  6. Department of Pathology, Medical School, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Karen Angélica Cavassani

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  1. Tatiana Salles de Souza Malaspina
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  2. Thaís Helena Gasparoto
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Correspondence to Ana Paula Campanelli.

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de Souza Malaspina, T.S., Gasparoto, T.H., Costa, M.R.S.N. et al. Enhanced programmed death 1 (PD-1) and PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) expression in patients with actinic cheilitis and oral squamous cell carcinoma. Cancer Immunol Immunother 60, 965–974 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00262-011-1007-5

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