The activation products as well as tumor associated macrophages-derived C1q further promotes an immunosuppressed microenvironment characterized by high expression of immune checkpoints (e.g. programmed cell death protein (PD)-1, Lag-3, programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1), and PD-L2), thereby fueling tumor progression. The gene discussed is CD274; the disease is neoplasm.