Hsa_circ_0007456 regulates the natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity toward hepatocellular carcinoma via the miR-6852-3p/ICAM-1 axis

Cell Death Dis. 2021 Jan 18;12(1):94. doi: 10.1038/s41419-020-03334-8.

Abstract

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) is one type of important non-coding RNAs that participate in tumorigenesis and cancer progression. In our previous study, we performed a microarray analysis of circRNAs between the tumor tissues and the adjacent normal tissues of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, and found that the circRNA hsa_circ_0007456 is significantly downregulated in the tumor tissues and correlated with the prognosis of HCC. We further investigated the relationship between the expression levels of hsa_circ_0007456 in HCC and the susceptibility of NK cells, and found that the expression levels of hsa_circ_0007456 in HCC cell lines significantly influenced their susceptibility to NK cells. Through a series of screening and validation, we found that hsa_circ_0007456 mainly functioned through sponging miR-6852-3p and regulating the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in HCC. The miR-6852-3p/ICAM-1 axis is essential for the NK cytotoxicity toward HCC mediated by hsa_circ_0007456. In conclusion, we identify here hsa_circ_0007456 as a promising biomarker of HCC, and highlight hsa_circ_0007456/miR-6852-3p/ICAM-1 axis as an important signaling pathway in the process of tumor immune evasion and the tumorigenesis of HCC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Biomarkers, Tumor / metabolism*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / genetics*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism*
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism*
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • RNA, Circular
  • Transfection

Substances

  • Biomarkers, Tumor
  • ICAM1 protein, human
  • RNA, Circular
  • Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1