ICOS-L as a Potential Therapeutic Target for Cancer Immunotherapy

Background: The co-stimulatory B7 family members are cell-surface protein ligands, binding to receptors on lymphocytes to regulate immune responses. One of them is the inducible co-stimulatory molecule ligand (ICOS-L). This protein is expressed on professional antigen-presenting cells (APCs), including B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs), but it can also be expressed by endothelial cells, lung epithelium and in tumour microenvironment cells. ICOS-L is important for memory and effector T cells during the specific humoral immune responses, but its role in cancer is not yet understood. Objective: To discuss the role of ICOS/ICOS-L in cancer, given importance of identifying selective targets for cancer treatment, and knowing the mechanism of immune evasion by tumour. Main Findings: ICOS/ICOS-L signal has opposite effects on the T-cell response. ICOS-L is activated in several types of cancers to maintain immunosuppressive CD4(+) T cell subsets, such as regulatory T cells (Tregs). ICOS-L over-expression is associated with tumour progression and poor overall survival. In colon cancer, activation of this co-stimulatory signal is associated with improved survival suggesting a dualistic effect of the ICOS/ICOs-L signal pathway. Interestingly, following anti-cancer vaccine or anti-CTLA-4 treatment, ICOS+ T cells increased significantly in both the CD4(+) and CD8(+) population and the ratio Teff/Treg increased in tumour microenvironment. This suggests a potential role of ICOS/ICOS-L in improving effectiveness of cancer therapy. Conclusion: ICOS/ICOS-L signal pathway has the potential to improve cancer treatment. However, studies in other models are needed to understand whether inhibition of ICOS expression or the blockage of its co-stimulation could be a potential therapeutic target or adjuvant treatment for immunotherapy.