Evaluation of Immune Restoration Potential of PD-1 Blockers.

ABSTRACT

The programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor and its primary ligand (PD-L1) have crucial roles in tumor-induced immune suppression. PD-1/PD-L1 blockers are designed to restore the immune system and induce potent antitumor effects. In this study we established a direct and reliable method to evaluate the immune restoration potential of human PD-1 blockers. We found anti-human PD-1 antibody could reverse PD-L1 induced suppression of human CD3+ cells proliferation and IL-2 production. This method is suitable for all kinds of PD-1 blockers including antibodies and chemical drugs. This function assay could be easily applied and provide valuable information for drug development.