Functional Flow Cytometry to Predict PD-L1 Conformational Changes

Roser Salvia1, Laura G Rico1, Michael D Ward2

  • 1Functional Cytomics Lab, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.

Current Protocols
|December 15, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Programmed cell death protein 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1) conformational changes affect cancer immunotherapy. This study details flow cytometry methods to analyze PD-L1 reactivity in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), crucial for understanding target binding.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Oncology

Background:

  • The programmed cell death protein 1/programmed cell death protein ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) axis is a key target in cancer immunotherapy.
  • Conformational changes in PD-L1 can impede antibody binding and therapeutic efficacy in living cells.
  • Understanding PD-L1 dynamics is crucial for optimizing immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore the impact of PD-L1 conformational changes on its function and potential mutations.
  • To present detailed flow cytometry protocols for analyzing PD-L1 reactivity in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs).
  • To provide a methodology for studying protein conformational changes in living cells.

Main Methods:

  • Detailed flow cytometry procedures for sample preparation, acquisition, and gating.
  • Analysis of PD-L1 reactivity in myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs).
  • Utilizing bioinformatic tools for flow cytometric data analysis.

Main Results:

  • Established flow cytometry protocols to assess PD-L1 conformational changes and reactivity in MDSCs.
  • Demonstrated the applicability of the method for studying protein conformational dynamics in live cells.
  • Provided a framework for analyzing PD-L1 expression and function in the context of lung cancer.

Conclusions:

  • Flow cytometry is a viable method for analyzing PD-L1 conformational changes and reactivity in MDSCs.
  • This approach can enhance the understanding of PD-L1 function in cancer immunotherapy.
  • The presented protocols can be adapted for studying other cell surface proteins and their conformational dynamics.