Molecular Therapy: Oncolytics (Jun 2020)

RBFOX1 Regulates the Permeability of the Blood-Tumor Barrier via the LINC00673/MAFF Pathway

  • Shuyuan Shen,
  • Chunqing Yang,
  • Xiaobai Liu,
  • Jian Zheng,
  • Yunhui Liu,
  • Libo Liu,
  • Jun Ma,
  • Teng Ma,
  • Ping An,
  • Yang Lin,
  • Heng Cai,
  • Di Wang,
  • Zhen Li,
  • Lini Zhao,
  • Yixue Xue

Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17
pp. 138 – 152

Abstract

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The blood-tumor barrier limits the delivery of therapeutic drugs to brain tumor tissues. Selectively opening the blood-tumor barrier is considered crucial for effective chemotherapy of glioma. RNA-binding proteins have emerged as crucial regulators in various biologic processes. This study found that RNA-binding Fox-1 homolog 1 (RBFOX1) was downregulated in glioma vascular endothelial cells derived from glioma tissues, and in glioma endothelial cells obtained by co-culturing endothelial cells with glioma cells. Overexpression of RBFOX1 impaired the integrity of the blood-tumor barrier and increased its permeability. Additionally, RBFOX1 overexpression decreased the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-5. Subsequent analysis of the mechanism indicated that the overexpression of RBFOX1 increased musculoaponeurotic fibrosarcoma protein basic leucine zipper [bZIP] transcription factor F (MAFF) expression by downregulating LINC00673, which stabilized MAFF messenger RNA (mRNA) through Staufen1-mediated mRNA decay. Moreover, MAFF could bind to the promoter region and inhibit the promoter activities of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-5, which reduced its expression. The combination of RBFOX1 upregulation and LINC00673 downregulation promoted doxorubicin delivery across the blood-tumor barrier, resulting in apoptosis of glioma cells. In conclusion, this study indicated that overexpression of RBFOX1 increased blood-tumor barrier permeability through the LINC00673/MAFF pathway, which might provide a new useful target for future enhancement of blood-tumor barrier permeability.

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