Endothelial cell, but not neutrophil, programmed cell death receptor-ligand 1 loss has a morbid impact on experimental murine shock/sepsis-induced lung injury - Report - MDSpire

Endothelial cell, but not neutrophil, programmed cell death receptor-ligand 1 loss has a morbid impact on experimental murine shock/sepsis-induced lung injury

  • By

  • Elizabeth W. Tindal

  • Chun-Shiang Chung

  • Yaping Chen

  • Runping Zhao

  • Fernando Gutierrez Garcia

  • Theopi Rados

  • Sean F. Monaghan

  • Alfred Ayala

  • June 2, 2026

  • 0 min

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Loss of PD-L1 in Endothelial Cells Affects Lung Injury in Sepsis Models

Overview

This study demonstrates that the absence of PD-L1 in endothelial cells significantly reduces lung injury and mortality in murine models of shock and sepsis, while neutrophil PD-L1 deficiency appears to exacerbate lung damage. These findings highlight the differential roles of PD-L1 in various cell types during sepsis-induced lung injury.

Background

Sepsis remains a leading cause of mortality in intensive care units, often resulting in acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Understanding the molecular mechanisms that contribute to lung injury in sepsis is crucial for developing targeted therapies. The programmed cell death receptor-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathway has emerged as a potential modulator of immune responses in sepsis, warranting further investigation into its role in different cell types.

Data Highlights

Group14-Day MortalityLung Vascular PermeabilityCytokine Levels
ecPD-L1−/−LowerDecreasedMCP-1 Declined
pmnPD-L1−/−IncreasedNo ChangeAngiopoietin 2 Increased

Key Findings

  • ecPD-L1−/− mice showed lower 14-day mortality compared to controls in Hem/CLP models.
  • Increased lung vascular permeability was observed in control mice, but not in ecPD-L1−/− mice.
  • Cytokine levels, including MCP-1, significantly declined in ecPD-L1−/− mice compared to controls.
  • In contrast, pmnPD-L1−/− mice exhibited increased levels of Angiopoietin 2 and inflammatory cytokines like MIP-2 and IL-6.
  • The findings suggest a detrimental role of PD-L1 on endothelial cells and a protective role on neutrophils in the context of sepsis.

Clinical Implications

The differential impact of PD-L1 expression on endothelial cells versus neutrophils suggests potential therapeutic targets for mitigating lung injury in sepsis. Clinicians should consider the role of immune checkpoint pathways in the management of sepsis-related lung complications.

Conclusion

This study underscores the complex role of PD-L1 in sepsis, indicating that targeting endothelial PD-L1 may offer a novel approach to reduce lung injury and improve survival in septic patients.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026 | SCCM
  2. Immune checkpoint inhibition in sepsis: a Phase 1b randomized study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of nivolumab - PMC
  3. Intensive Care Medicine — 21st Annual Congress of the European Society of Intensive Care Medicine
  4. Critical Care (Springer) — Reduced plasma levels of Copine 5 correlate with sepsis-induced vascular leakage and mortality in human patients and a murine sepsis model
  5. Intensive Care Medicine — The Impact of Renal Hypoperfusion on Microcirculatory Dysfunction in Endotoxemic Rat Models
  6. Basic Research in Cardiology — The Role of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase (NOS3) in Deteriorating Cardiac Function During Early Sepsis
  7. Surviving Sepsis Campaign: International Guidelines for Management of Sepsis and Septic Shock 2026 | SCCM
  8. Immune checkpoint inhibition in sepsis: a Phase 1b randomized study to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of nivolumab - PMC
  9. Regulation of endothelial cell death in inflammatory lung injury - PubMed

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