B7-H1/PD-L1

CD274, also known as B7-H1 or programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), is a 40 kD type I transmembrane protein and a member of the B7 family within the immunoglobulin receptor superfamily. Programmed death-1 ligand-1 (PD-L1, CD274, B7-H1) has been identified as the ligand for the immunoinhibitory receptor programmed death-1 (PD1/PDCD1) and has been demonstrated to play a role in the regulation of immune responses and peripheral tolerance. By binding to PD1 on activated T-cells and B-cells, PD-L1 may inhibit ongoing T-cell responses by inducing apoptosis and arresting cell-cycle progression. Accordingly, it leads to growth of immunogenic tumor growth by increasing apoptosis of antigen specific T cells and may contribute to immune evasion by cancers. PD-L1 thus is regarded as promising therapeutic target for human autoimmune disease and malignant cancers.