Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor inhibits cervical cancer progression via regulating macrophage phenotype

Mol Biol Rep. 2024 May 12;51(1):654. doi: 10.1007/s11033-024-09602-6.

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a common gynecologic malignant tumor, but the critical factors affecting cervical cancer progression are still not well demonstrated. Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor (MANF) has been widely recognized as an anti-inflammatory factor to regulate macrophage polarization. In this study, the effect and mechanism of MANF on cervical cancer were preliminarily explored.

Methods and results: Kaplan-Meier curve was used to show the overall survival time of the involved cervical cancer patients with high and low MANF expression in cervical cancer tissues. MANF was highly expressed in peritumoral tissues of cervical carcinoma by using immunohistochemistry and western blot. MANF mRNA level was detected by using qRT-PCR. Dual-labeled immunofluorescence showed MANF was mainly expressed in macrophages of cervical peritumoral tissues. Moreover, MANF-silenced macrophages promoted HeLa and SiHa cells survival, migration, invasion and EMT via NF-κB signaling activation. The results of tumor formation in nude mice indicated MANF-silenced macrophages promoted cervical tumor formation in vivo.

Conclusion: Our study reveals an inhibitory role of MANF in cervical cancer progression, indicating MANF as a new and valuable therapeutic target for cervical cancer treatment.

Keywords: Cervical cancer; Macrophage differentiation; Mesencephalic astrocyte-derived neurotrophic factor; Nuclear factor-kappa B.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Movement / genetics
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Disease Progression*
  • Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition / genetics
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • HeLa Cells
  • Humans
  • Macrophages* / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude*
  • Middle Aged
  • NF-kappa B / metabolism
  • Nerve Growth Factors* / genetics
  • Nerve Growth Factors* / metabolism
  • Phenotype
  • Signal Transduction
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / metabolism
  • Uterine Cervical Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Nerve Growth Factors
  • MANF protein, human
  • NF-kappa B