{"title":"TUG1 targeting enhances anticancer immunity thereby facilitating lenvatinib efficacy in hepatocellular carcinoma.","authors":"Siyao Che, Longguang He, Qinshou Chen, Yiqiao Mo, Fuliang Li, Junwei Huang, Zikang Ruan","doi":"10.1038/s41435-025-00358-y","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death globally, with a poor prognosis. The long non-coding RNA TUG1 has been implicated, but its specific role in HCC remains unclear. RT-qPCR was used to evaluate TUG1 and PD-L1 expression, while GEO and TCGA databases were utilized to compare TUG1 levels between HCC patients and healthy controls. In vitro, including CCK8, colony formation, and transwell, assessed cell growth. CD8 + T cell cytotoxicity was evaluated through HCC cells co-culture experiments, and the interaction of miR-377-3p with TUG1 and PD-L1 was examined using dual-luciferase reporter assays. Results indicated that TUG1 was upregulated in HCC, particularly in advanced-stage disease, and PD-L1 expression positively correlated with TUG1 levels. Notably, lenvatinib (LEN) treatment downregulated both TUG1 and PD-L1 in HCC cells, enhancing CD8 + T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Overexpression of TUG1 diminished the efficacy of LEN, while TUG1 knockdown enhanced it. Mechanistically, TUG1 was found to sponge miR-377-3p, thereby increasing PD-L1 expression. In vivo, TUG1 knockdown combined with LEN treatment significantly reduced tumor growth and PD-L1 expression. In conclusion, TUG1 promotes HCC progression by enhancing PD-L1 through miR-377-3p, with its knockdown enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of LEN, highlighting TUG1's potential as a novel target for HCC treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":12691,"journal":{"name":"Genes and immunity","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.5000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Genes and immunity","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41435-025-00358-y","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"GENETICS & HEREDITY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer death globally, with a poor prognosis. The long non-coding RNA TUG1 has been implicated, but its specific role in HCC remains unclear. RT-qPCR was used to evaluate TUG1 and PD-L1 expression, while GEO and TCGA databases were utilized to compare TUG1 levels between HCC patients and healthy controls. In vitro, including CCK8, colony formation, and transwell, assessed cell growth. CD8 + T cell cytotoxicity was evaluated through HCC cells co-culture experiments, and the interaction of miR-377-3p with TUG1 and PD-L1 was examined using dual-luciferase reporter assays. Results indicated that TUG1 was upregulated in HCC, particularly in advanced-stage disease, and PD-L1 expression positively correlated with TUG1 levels. Notably, lenvatinib (LEN) treatment downregulated both TUG1 and PD-L1 in HCC cells, enhancing CD8 + T cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Overexpression of TUG1 diminished the efficacy of LEN, while TUG1 knockdown enhanced it. Mechanistically, TUG1 was found to sponge miR-377-3p, thereby increasing PD-L1 expression. In vivo, TUG1 knockdown combined with LEN treatment significantly reduced tumor growth and PD-L1 expression. In conclusion, TUG1 promotes HCC progression by enhancing PD-L1 through miR-377-3p, with its knockdown enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of LEN, highlighting TUG1's potential as a novel target for HCC treatment.
期刊介绍:
Genes & Immunity emphasizes studies investigating how genetic, genomic and functional variations affect immune cells and the immune system, and associated processes in the regulation of health and disease. It further highlights articles on the transcriptional and posttranslational control of gene products involved in signaling pathways regulating immune cells, and protective and destructive immune responses.