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Updated: Mar 2, 2026
A Mouse Model to Investigate the Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts in Tumor Growth
Published on: December 22, 2020
[Tumor Associated Fibroblasts Promote PD-L1 Expression in Lung Cancer Cells]
Haiyang He1, Luyu Qi2, Yongsheng Xiao3
1Logistics University of People's Armed Police Force, Tianjin 300162, China.
Background:
Tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAF) is an important part of TME, which inhibits the function of immune cells. CD8+ T cells play a significant role in tumor immunity. T-cell membrane possesses a distinct type of molecule with a negative regulatory function. Upon interaction with its corresponding ligand [programmed death factor ligand 1 (PD-L1)], programmed death factor 1 (PD-1) is activated and thus inhibits the kinase activity of T cells. This study aims to explore the possible effects of TAF on PD-L1 expression in lung cancer cells.
Methods:
Lung cancer cell lines H1975 and H520 were co-cultured with (experiment) or without TAF (control) via Transwell assay for through 48 hours under the same culture condition. H1975 and H520 cells were counted using a microscope. The protein and mRNA expression levels of PD-L1 were detected by FCM assay and PCR analysis, respectively.
Results:
The numbers of lung cancer cells in 100 μm2 for H1975 and H520 cells are (46±21) and (38±10) in the experiment group, respectively, and (16±5) and (12±5) in the control group, respectively (P<0.05). The expression levels of the PD-L1 protein in H1975 and H520 cells are (20.93%±3.54%) and (19.26%±3.04%) in the experiment group, respectively, and (12.58%±2.52%) and (11.60%±2.65%) in the control group, respectively (P<0.05). The mRNA expression levels in H1975 and H520 cells are (16.45±1.25) and (15.38±2.02) pg/mL in the experiment group, respectively, and (7.78±1.27) and (7.20±1.58) pg/mL (P<0.05) in the control group, respectively (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
TAF promotes the growth and increases the expression of PD-L1 in H1975 and H520 cells. .
Insights
Tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAF) promote lung cancer cell growth and increase programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression. This suggests TAF may impact anti-tumor immunity by upregulating PD-L1 in cancer cells.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Tumor-associated fibroblasts (TAF) are key components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) that can suppress immune cell function.
- CD8+ T cells are crucial for anti-tumor immunity, and their activity is regulated by molecules like programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand, PD-L1.
- The interaction between PD-1 and PD-L1 leads to T-cell inhibition, representing a significant mechanism for tumor immune evasion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of TAF on the expression of PD-L1 in lung cancer cell lines.
- To determine if TAF influences lung cancer cell proliferation.
Main Methods:
- Lung cancer cell lines (H1975 and H520) were co-cultured with TAF using a Transwell assay for 48 hours.
- Cell counts were performed using microscopy.
- Protein and mRNA expression levels of PD-L1 were quantified using flow cytometry (FCM) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), respectively.
Main Results:
- Co-culture with TAF significantly increased the number of H1975 and H520 lung cancer cells compared to controls (P<0.05).
- TAF co-culture led to significantly higher protein expression levels of PD-L1 in both H1975 and H520 cells (P<0.05).
- mRNA expression levels of PD-L1 were also significantly elevated in lung cancer cells cultured with TAF (P<0.05).
Conclusions:
- TAF significantly promotes the proliferation of lung cancer cell lines H1975 and H520.
- TAF upregulates both protein and mRNA expression of PD-L1 in these lung cancer cells.
- These findings suggest TAF plays a role in enhancing lung cancer growth and potentially immune suppression via PD-L1 upregulation.
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