PD-L1 expression and PD-1 checkpoint pathway in cancer Gene Set

Dataset KEGG Pathways 2026
Category structural or functional annotations
Type pathway
Description Programmed cell death 1 (PD1) and its ligand (PDL1) are key regulatory physiological immune checkpoints that maintain self-tolerance in the organism by regulating the degree of activation of T and B cells amongst other immune cell types. In solid tumors, the PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitory pathway can be (mis-)used to silence the immune system by increasing the expression of PD-L1 on the tumor cell surface. Up-regulation of PD-L1 is caused by activation of pro-survival pathways MAPK and PI3K/Akt as well as transcriptional factors HIF-1, STAT3 and NF-kappa B. The MAPK and PI3K signalling pathways are activated by gene mutations and growth factors. PD-L1 on tumor cells may then engage the PD-1 receptors resulting in suppression of T-cell mediated immune response. Therapeutic antibodies blocking the PD-1/PD-L1 pathway by targeting PD-L1 or PD-1 are highly effective in rescuing T cell anti-tumor effector functions. (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, hsa05235)
External Link https://www.kegg.jp/entry/hsa05235
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88 proteins participating in the PD-L1 expression and PD-1 checkpoint pathway in cancer pathway from the KEGG Pathways 2026 dataset.

Symbol Name
AKT1 v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 1
AKT2 v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 2
AKT3 v-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog 3
ALK anaplastic lymphoma receptor tyrosine kinase
BATF basic leucine zipper transcription factor, ATF-like
BATF2 basic leucine zipper transcription factor, ATF-like 2
BATF3 basic leucine zipper transcription factor, ATF-like 3
CD247 CD247 molecule
CD274 CD274 molecule
CD28 CD28 molecule
CD3D CD3d molecule, delta (CD3-TCR complex)
CD3E CD3e molecule, epsilon (CD3-TCR complex)
CD4 CD4 molecule
CHUK conserved helix-loop-helix ubiquitous kinase
CLSTN1 calsyntenin 1
CSNK2A2 casein kinase 2, alpha prime polypeptide
CSNK2A3 casein kinase 2, alpha 3 polypeptide
CSNK2B casein kinase 2, beta polypeptide
EGF epidermal growth factor
EGFR epidermal growth factor receptor
EML4 echinoderm microtubule associated protein like 4
FOS FBJ murine osteosarcoma viral oncogene homolog
HIF1A hypoxia inducible factor 1, alpha subunit (basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor)
HRAS Harvey rat sarcoma viral oncogene homolog
IFNG interferon, gamma
IFNGR1 interferon gamma receptor 1
IFNGR2 interferon gamma receptor 2 (interferon gamma transducer 1)
IKBKB inhibitor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells, kinase beta
IKBKG inhibitor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells, kinase gamma
JAK1 Janus kinase 1
JAK2 Janus kinase 2
JUN jun proto-oncogene
LCK LCK proto-oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase
LNCEGFL7OS lncRNA EGFL7 opposite strand
MAP2K1 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1
MAP2K2 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2
MAP2K3 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 3
MAP2K6 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 6
MAP3K3 mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 3
MAPK1 mitogen-activated protein kinase 1
MAPK11 mitogen-activated protein kinase 11
MAPK12 mitogen-activated protein kinase 12
MAPK13 mitogen-activated protein kinase 13
MAPK14 mitogen-activated protein kinase 14
MAPK3 mitogen-activated protein kinase 3
MTOR mechanistic target of rapamycin (serine/threonine kinase)
MYD88 myeloid differentiation primary response 88
NFATC1 nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 1
NFATC2 nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 2
NFATC3 nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 3
NFKB1 nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells 1
NFKBIA nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, alpha
NFKBIB nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, beta
NFKBIE nuclear factor of kappa light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor, epsilon
NRAS neuroblastoma RAS viral (v-ras) oncogene homolog
PDCD1 programmed cell death 1
PIK3CA phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit alpha
PIK3CB phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase, catalytic subunit beta
PIK3R1 phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory subunit 1 (alpha)
PIK3R2 phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory subunit 2 (beta)
PIK3R3 phosphoinositide-3-kinase, regulatory subunit 3 (gamma)
PLCG1 phospholipase C, gamma 1
PPP3CA protein phosphatase 3, catalytic subunit, alpha isozyme
PPP3CB protein phosphatase 3, catalytic subunit, beta isozyme
PPP3CC protein phosphatase 3, catalytic subunit, gamma isozyme
PPP3R1 protein phosphatase 3, regulatory subunit B, alpha
PPP3R2 protein phosphatase 3, regulatory subunit B, beta
PRKCQ protein kinase C, theta
PTEN phosphatase and tensin homolog
PTPN11 protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 11
PTPN6 protein tyrosine phosphatase, non-receptor type 6
RASGRP1 RAS guanyl releasing protein 1 (calcium and DAG-regulated)
RELA v-rel avian reticuloendotheliosis viral oncogene homolog A
RNASE3 ribonuclease, RNase A family, 3
RPS6KB1 ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70kDa, polypeptide 1
RPS6KB2 ribosomal protein S6 kinase, 70kDa, polypeptide 2
SPNS1 spinster homolog 1 (Drosophila)
STAT1 signal transducer and activator of transcription 1, 91kDa
STAT3 signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (acute-phase response factor)
TARP TCR gamma alternate reading frame protein
TICAM1 toll-like receptor adaptor molecule 1
TIRAP toll-interleukin 1 receptor (TIR) domain containing adaptor protein
TLR2 toll-like receptor 2
TLR4 toll-like receptor 4
TLR9 toll-like receptor 9
TMED7-TICAM2 TMED7-TICAM2 readthrough
TRAF6 TNF receptor-associated factor 6, E3 ubiquitin protein ligase
ZAP70 zeta-chain (TCR) associated protein kinase 70kDa