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Nasopharyngeal cancer-derived microRNA-21 promotes immune suppressive B cells

Cellular & Molecular Immunology volume 12, pages 750–756 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

The prevalence of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is high in the southern area of China and some other districts in the world. The pathogenesis of NPC is unclear. It is reported that some microRNAs (miR) are involved in the progression of NPC. This study aims to investigate the role of miR-21 in the induction of immune tolerance of NPC. In this study, NPC tissue was collected from patients with NPC. Assessment of miR was performed with real time quantitative RT-PCR. Western blotting was used to assess proteins of interleukin 10 and nuclear factor I-A (NFI-A). Immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. The results showed that NPC cell line C666-1 and surgically removed NPC tissue expressed miR-21, which was upregulated by the presence of the Toll-like receptor 3 ligand, Poly I: C. Exposure to miR-21 increased the expression of NFI-A and interleukin (IL)-10 in naive B cells. High frequency of IL-10+ B cells was detected in the NPC tissue. The NPC- or miR-21-primed B cells suppressed cytotoxic CD8+ T cell activities. We conclude that NPC-derived miR-21 induces IL-10+ B cells; the latter is capable of suppressing CD8+ T-cell activities. miR-21 may be a potential target in the treatment of NPC.

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Acknowledgements

This study was supported by grants from the innovation of science and Technology Commission of Shenzhen Municipality (JCYJ20120613161724279 and JCYJ20120613172559904).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, Shenzhen, China

    Bei-Ping Miao & Rui-Shi Zhang

  2. Allergy & Immunology Center, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China

    Meng Li, Yun-Ting Fu, Miao Zhao, Zhi-Gang Liu & Ping-Chang Yang

  3. ENT Hospital, Longgang Central Hospital, Shenzhen, China

    Yun-Ting Fu & Miao Zhao

  4. Brain Body Institute, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Yun-Ting Fu, Miao Zhao & Ping-Chang Yang

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  1. Bei-Ping Miao
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Correspondence to Meng Li, Zhi-Gang Liu or Ping-Chang Yang.

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Miao, BP., Zhang, RS., Li, M. et al. Nasopharyngeal cancer-derived microRNA-21 promotes immune suppressive B cells. Cell Mol Immunol 12, 750–756 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1038/cmi.2014.129

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