Research progress on programmed death 1 and its ligand as markers of immune tolerance after liver transplantation / 中华肝胆外科杂志

ABSTRACT

Programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) are important signaling molecules that mediate immunosuppression. This signaling pathway leads to the evading of tumor cells from immune surveillance and plays an adverse affect on anti-tumor immunity. For grafts, the activation of PD-1/PD-L1 signaling pathway also plays an important role in the its evasion from host immune attack and the formation of immune tolerance. PD-1/PD-L1 has been shown to regulate immune tolerance in corneal, heart and lung transplantation. Its role in liver transplantation, however, has yet to be elaborated. This article reviews the potential of PD-1/PD-L1 as a marker of immune tolerance after liver transplantation.