Increased expression of TAZ and associated upregulation of PD-L1 in cervical cancer

As an important component of the Hippo pathway, WW domain-containing transcription regulator 1 (TAZ), is a transcriptional coactivator that is responsible for the progression of various types of cancers. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) receptors in activated T cells and their ligand programming death force 1 (PD-L1) are the main checkpoint signals that control T cell activity. Studies have shown high levels of PD-L1 in various cancers and that PD-L1/PD-1 signals to evade T-cell immunity. Recent data have demonstrated that TAZ can regulate the characteristics of cancer cells via PD-L1. Cervical cancer is a common gynecological disease worldwide. In this study, we attempted to evaluate the effects of TAZ and PD-L1 on cervical cancer.

Hela cervical cancer cells were transfected with TAZ plasmid or TAZ siRNA or PD-L1 siRNA by using Lipofectamine 2000. The relationship between TAZ and PD-L1 in cervical cancer cells was determined by qRT-PCR and western blotting. The functional roles of TAZ were confirmed via CCK-8, Transwell and flow cytometry assays. Western blotting was utilized to observe the expression of BCL-2 and Caspase-3. The clinicopathological correlation of TAZ and PD-L1 was evaluated via relevant databases.

TAZ is upregulated in cervical cancer and induces the growth and metastasis of cervical cancer cells by targeting PD-L1and inhibiting the ratio of apoptotic of cancer cells. High TAZ and PD-L1 expression was observed in different stage, grade, histological patterns, and ages of cervical cancer groups compared with normal cervix groups. Furthermore, high TAZ expression was positively correlated with the infiltration levels of immune cells and the expression of PD-L1.