The Expression And Clinical Significance Of PD-1/PD-L1 Costimulatory Molecules In Patients With Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Objective:Observed the expression levels of PD-1/PD-L1 costimulatory molecules in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia(CLL),and to explore the possible clinical significance in CLL.Methods:The expression of PD-1 in peripheral blood CD8+T cells,CD4+T cells and CD19+B cells was detected by flow cytometry,and the expression of PD-1 in dendrites cells(DC)was detected by flow cytometry in 57 CLL patients and 20 healthy controls.The correlation of PD-1/PD-L1 expression with disease stage,CD38 expression,ZAP70 expression,chromosome karyotype abnormality and β2-MG expression was analyzed.Results:(1)CLL patients in the group of 39 males and 18 females,mean age(63.7 ± 10.7)years.Compared with the control group,there was no statistically significant difference in age and gender(P>0.05).The expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in peripheral blood of CLL patients was higher than that of the control group(P<0.05).(2)In Rai staging,the later the stage,the higher expression level of PD-1and PD-L1(P<0.05).(3)PD-1 expression in CD8+CD38+ group(11 cases)was higher than that in CD8+CD38-group(46 cases)(P = 0.004),CD8+poor prognosis chromosome group(14 cases)(N = 28)(P = 0.004).(4)The expression of PD-L1 was higher in CD38+group than in CD38-group(P = 0.002),ZAP-70+group(11 cases)was higher than that in ZAP-70-group(28 cases)(P <0.001),the poor prognosis group(14 cases)was higher than that in the good prognosis group(28 cases)(P = 0.023).There was no correlation between the expression of PD-1/PD-L1 and β2-MG(P> 0.05).Conclusion:This study reveals that PD-1 and PD-L1 were highly expressed in CLL patients.Its expression levels were correlated with Rai stage of CLL,CD38,ZAP70,chromosome karyotype,but not withβ2-MG.PD-1,PD-L1 may be indicators of prognosis in patients with CLL.