The Immune Checkpoint Molecule CD200 Is Associated with Tumor Grading and Metastasis in Bladder Cancer.

BACKGROUND We examined the expression of CD200, a ligand of immune tolerance, in transitional cell carcinoma of the human bladder (TCC). MATERIALS AND METHODS CD200 was analyzed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in 90 patients with suspected TCC lesions of the bladder. Expression of CD200 was exemplarily validated by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis. RESULTS CD200 was detectable at mRNA and protein levels in TCC homogenate and TCC cell lines (T24, UMUC3). TCC tissues showed significantly higher CD200 expression (p<0.005) than normal bladder tissues. CD200 signals were also higher in metastasized compared to localized TCC (p<0.05). CD200 was …