PD-L1, an Important Immune Checkpoint Regulator, Is Suppressed by miR-34a in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Abstract Background: Key molecules regulating the immune checkpoint have shed light on the efforts to control several cancers. Recently, immune checkpoint inhibitors for cancer therapy such as antibodies against programmed cell death 1 (PD-1), programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), and cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 (CTLA4) have been developed. In head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), such immune checkpoint inhibitors have come into clinical use and are expected to improve patients’ prognoses. Recently, miR-34a has been shown to be a downstream micro RNA of TP53 that regulates PD-L1 in several types of cancer. To reveal the correlations between miR-34a and PD-L1 in HNSCCs in terms of clinical significance, we analyzed 19 HNSCC cell lines.Methods: We measured the expression levels of miR-34a and PD-L1 in 10 HNSCC cell lines as well as in 9 of their derived acquired cisplatin (CDDP) resistant cell lines by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. Results were further analyzed by their TP53 statuses. We also investigated the changes in PD-L1 expression levels after miR-34a precursor- or inhibitor-mediated forced expression or suppression in HNSCC cell lines. Results: We observed inverse correlations between both mRNA and protein expression levels of miR-34a and PD-L1. No significant differences in miR-34a levels were observed with regard to TP53 status. Forced expression of miR-34a decreased PD-L1 expression, and suppression of miR-34a increased PD-L1 expression. Conclusion: Our present results suggest that miR-34a negatively regulates PD-L1 expression, possibly in a TP53 independent manner in HNSCC.