The regulation and mechanism of cancer-associated fibroblasts on tumor-infiltrating immune cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

doi:10.19438/j.cjoms.2023.02.003

Abstract

Abstract: PURPOSE: To explore the mechanism of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) regulating the expression of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: The expression profile and clinical data analysis of lncRNA MIR99AHG related to HNSCC were obtained through the TCGA database, and clinical tumor samples. Primary cell culture and identification of CAFs and normal fibroblasts(NFs) were taken. The expression of lncRNA MIR99AHG in tongue cancer cells co-cultured with CAFs or NFs were detected by qRT-PCR. Correlation of lncRNA MIR99AHG in HNSCC and tumor-infiltrating immune cells was analyzed with Graph Pad 8.0.2 software. RESULTS: LncRNA MIR99AHG was a low expression gene in HNSCC and high expression of lncRNA MIR99AHG was positively correlated with prognosis. Western blot analysis showed that α-SMA was highly expressed in CAFs. qRT-PCR showed that the expression of lncRNA MIR99AHG in tongue cancer cells co-cultured with CAFs was significantly downregulated compared with the negative control group. LncRNA MIR99AHG was positively correlated with T cells, CD8⁺ T cells, B cells, NK cells, but negatively correlated with Th1, Th2, neutrophils, Tgd. CONCLUSIONS: CAFs may inhibit the expression of lncRNA MIR99AHG to regulate the expression of tumor-infiltrating immune cells in HNSCC.

Key words: Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, lncRNA, Cancer-associated fibroblast, Tumor-infiltrating immune cells

CLC Number:

R739.8

HAN Lin-zi, ZHOU Jian-hua, ZHAO Qian, DONG Lei, CHEN Zheng-gang, QIU Jian-zhong, YUAN Rong-tao. The regulation and mechanism of cancer-associated fibroblasts on tumor-infiltrating immune cells in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma[J]. China Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, 2023, 21(2): 119-124.

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