Application of Aptamer-SERS Nanotags for Unveiling the PD-L1 Immunomarker Progression Correlated to the Cell Metabolic Bioprocess

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Abstract
In recent years, the expression and progression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) as an immunomarker in the context of a cell metabolic environment has gained significant attention in cancer research. However, intercellular bioprocesses that control the dynamics of PD-L1 have been largely unexplored. This study aimed to explore the cell metabolic states and conditions that govern dynamic variations of PD-L1 within the cell metabolic environment using an aptamer-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) approach. The aptamer-SERS technique offers a sensitive, rapid, and powerful analytical tool for targeted and nondestructive detection of an immunomarker with high sensitivity and specificity. By combining aptamer-SERS with cell state profiling, we investigated the modulation in PD-L1 expression under different metabolic states, including glucose deprivation, metabolic coenzyme activity, and altered time/concentration-based cytokine availability. The most intriguing features in our findings include the cell-specific responses, cell differentiation by revealing distinct patterns, and dynamics of PD-L1 in different cell lines. Additionally, the time-dependent variations in PD-L1 expression, coupled with the dose-dependent relationship between glucose concentration and PD-L1 levels, underscore the complex interplay between immune checkpoint regulation and cellular metabolism. Therefore, this work demonstrates the advantages of using highly-sensitive and specific aptamer-SERS nanotags for investigating the immune checkpoint dynamics and related metabolic bioprocess.
Funding Information
  • Double Thousand Plan of Jiangxi Province (jxsq2023102017)
  • China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (2023M730723)
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (11635013, 82260031)
  • Natural Science Foundation of Gansu Province (23JRRA1319)
  • Postdoctoral International Exchange Program (E32AAD18)
  • Research Fund for International Young Scientists (T2250410383)

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