The Immunosuppressive Ligands PD-L1 and CD200 are Linked in AML T-cell Immunosuppression: Identification of a New Immunotherapeutic Synapse

Long-term remission in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is generally not durable only being achieved in <50% of patients. Consequently there is a need to establish new treatments to prevent relapse. A promising approach is to augment the anti-tumor immune response in these patients; however, it is well established that overexpression of immunosuppressive molecules such as CD200 on the surface of AML cells directly suppresses the antitumor response. Nevertheless, blocking CD200:CD200R, only partially restores T-cell activity, suggesting that alternative immunosuppressive mechanisms need to be explored if the antitumor response in AML is to be optimally exploited.