Immune checkpoint molecules B7-H6 and PD-L1 co-pattern the tumor inflammatory microenvironment in human breast cancer

Sci Rep. 2021 Apr 6;11(1):7550. doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-87216-9.

Abstract

B7-H6 and PD-L1 belong to the B7 family co-stimulatory molecules fine-tuning the immune response. The present work investigates the clinical effect of B7-H6 protein expression with PD-L1 status and the infiltration of natural killer cells as potential biomarkers in breast tumor inflammatory microenvironment. The expression levels of B7-H6 protein by cancer cells and immune infiltrating cells in human breast cancer tissues and evaluate their associations with PD-L1 expression, NK cell status, clinical pathological features and prognosis were explored. The immunohistochemistry labeling method was used to assess B7-H6 and PD-L1 proteins expression by cancer and immune cells. The associations between immune checkpoint, major clinical pathological variables and survival rates were analyzed. B7-H6 protein was depicted in both breast and immune cells. Results showed that Tumor B7-H6 expression is highly associated with Her-2 over expression. B7-H6 + immune cells are highly related to the Scarff-Bloom-Richardson grade and associated with PD-L1 expression and NK cells status. Survival analysis revealed a better prognosis in patients with low expression of B7-H6 by cancer cells. Conversely, B7-H6 + immune cells were significantly associated with longer survival. Findings strongly suggest an interaction between B7 molecules that contributes to a particular design of the inflammatory microenvironment. This may influence the efficiency of therapies based on antibodies blocking the PD-L1/PD1 pathway and can explain the detection of clinical benefits only in a fraction of patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • B7 Antigens / analysis
  • B7 Antigens / immunology*
  • B7 Antigens / metabolism
  • B7-H1 Antigen / analysis
  • B7-H1 Antigen / immunology*
  • Biomarkers, Tumor / immunology
  • Breast / metabolism
  • Breast / pathology
  • Breast Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune Checkpoint Proteins / immunology
  • Immunohistochemistry / methods
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Lymphocytes, Tumor-Infiltrating / immunology
  • Middle Aged
  • Prognosis
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology*

Substances

  • B7 Antigens
  • B7-H1 Antigen
  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • CD274 protein, human
  • Immune Checkpoint Proteins
  • NCR3LG1 protein, human