Translational Oncology (Jul 2024)

PiR-hsa-23533 promotes malignancy in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma via USP7

  • Hanlin Hu,
  • Jingyu Lu,
  • Mingjin Xu,
  • Jie Wang,
  • Yeling Zhang,
  • Shan Yang,
  • Xiaomin Wang,
  • Mengyuan Wang,
  • Wenjie Xie,
  • Wenhua Xu,
  • Haijun Lu

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 45
p. 101990

Abstract

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Background: With regard to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), its occurrence and advancement are controlled by genetic and epigenetic anomalies. PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are recognized with significance in tumor, but the precise molecular mechanisms of piRNAs in HNSCC largely remain undisclosed. Methods: Differentially expressed piRNAs were identified by RNA sequencing. The expression of piR-hsa-23533 was evaluated using quantitative real-time PCR and RNA in situ hybridization. The impacts of piR-hsa-23533 on the proliferation and apoptosis of HNSCC cells were investigated by a series of in vitro and in vivo assays. Results: piR-hsa-23533 exhibits upregulation within HNSCC cells and tissues. Besides, piR-hsa-23533 overexpression promotes proliferation while inhibiting apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, while piR-hsa-23533 silencing has an opposite function. From the mechanistic perspective, piR-hsa-23533 can bind to Ubiquitin-specific protease 7 (USP7), as shown through RNA pull-down and RNA immunoprecipitation assays, promoting USP7 mRNA and protein expression. Conclusions: These findings highlight the functional importance of piR-hsa-23533 in HNSCC and may assist in the development of anti-HNSCC therapeutic target.

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