Exosomal MIF Derived From Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Promotes Metastasis by Repressing Ferroptosis of Macrophages

Wenhui Chen; Fan Zuo; Kaiwen Zhang; Tian Xia; Wei Lei; Zixiang Zhang; Lili Bao; Yiwen You

doi:10.3389/fcell.2021.791187

Exosomal MIF Derived From Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Promotes Metastasis by Repressing Ferroptosis of Macrophages

Front Cell Dev Biol. 2021 Dec 31:9:791187. doi: 10.3389/fcell.2021.791187. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Wenhui Chen^{1

2}, Fan Zuo³, Kaiwen Zhang^{1

2}, Tian Xia^{1

2}, Wei Lei^{1

2}, Zixiang Zhang^{1

2}, Lili Bao^{1

2}, Yiwen You^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Otorhinolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.
² Institute of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.
³ Department of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, China.

Abstract

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is the most common malignant tumor of the head and neck cancer (HNC). Metastasis is the main cause of treatment failure. However, the molecular mechanism for NPC metastasis is still unclear. As one of the most common host immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, macrophages have been proven to regulate metastasis. Besides, exosomes are the important bridge connecting various cells in TME. Currently, the role of NPC-exos on macrophages and their impact on metastasis remains to be unexplored. In this study, we found that MIF was highly expressed in NPC cells, and the exosomes secreted by NPC cells could be taken up by macrophages, thereby, inhibiting the ferroptosis of macrophages and then promoting the metastasis of NPC. Targeting MIF may be a potential treatment to reduce the rate of metastasis.

Keywords: MIF; NPC metastasis; exosome; ferroptosis; macrophage.