Interplay between interferon regulatory factor 1 and BRD4 in the regulation of PD-L1 in pancreatic stellate cells

Sci Rep. 2018 Sep 5;8(1):13225. doi: 10.1038/s41598-018-31658-1.

Abstract

The fibrotic reaction is a characteristic feature of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors. It is associated with activation and proliferation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs), which are key regulators of fibrosis in vivo. While there is increasing interest in the regulation of PD-L1 expression in cancer and immune cells, the expression and regulation of PD-L1 in other stromal cells, such as PSCs, has not been fully evaluated. Here we show that PSCs in vitro express higher PD-L1 mRNA and protein levels compared to the levels present in PDAC cells. We show that inhibitors targeting bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins and BRD4 knockdown decrease interferon-γ (IFN-γ)-induced PD-L1 expression in PSCs. We also show that c-MYC, one of the well-established targets of BET inhibitors, does not mediate IFN-γ-regulated PD-L1 expression in PSCs. Instead we show that interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF1) mediates IFN-γ-induced PD-L1 expression in PSCs. Finally, while we show that BET inhibitors do not regulate IFN-γ-induced IRF1 expression in PSCs, BET inhibitors decrease binding of IRF1 and BRD4 to the PD-L1 promoter. Together, these results demonstrate the interplay between IRF1 and BRD4 in the regulation of PD-L1 in PSCs.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • B7-H1 Antigen / genetics
  • B7-H1 Antigen / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / genetics
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / pathology
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 / genetics
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-1 / metabolism*
  • Nuclear Proteins / genetics
  • Nuclear Proteins / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / metabolism*
  • Pancreatic Stellate Cells / pathology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism*

Substances

  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • BRD4 protein, human
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Cell Cycle Proteins
  • IRF1 protein, human
  • Interferon Regulatory Factor-1
  • Nuclear Proteins
  • Transcription Factors