1000/1000
Hot
Most Recent
B7 family members, as immune checkpoint molecules, can substantially regulate immune responses. Since microRNAs (miRs) can regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, we conducted a scoping review to summarize and discuss the regulatory cross-talk between miRs and new B7 family immune checkpoint molecules, i.e., B7-H3, B7-H4, B7-H5, butyrophilin like 2 (BTNL2), B7-H6, B7-H7, and immunoglobulin like domain containing receptor 2 (ILDR2).
Immune checkpoints can considerably regulate immune responses [1]. These molecules are critical for maintaining self-tolerance and preventing the stimulation of immune responses against normal peripheral tissues. Indeed, suppressing inhibitory axes, e.g., the immune checkpoint axis of cytotoxic T lymphocyte antigen 4 (CTLA-4) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1), has revolutionized cancer immunotherapy [2].
The B7 family is a group of immune checkpoints commonly expressed in different immune cells, such as antigen-presenting cells, T cells, B cells, natural killer cells, and various tissues. They play a crucial role in immune response; for example, they have substantial roles in directing the fate of T cells by binding their receptors. Various members of the B7 family have been identified, e.g., B7.1 (CD80), B7.2 (CD86), B7-H1 (PD-L1, or CD274), B7-DC (PD-L2, PDC1LG2, or CD273), B7-H2 (ICOSL: inducible T-cell co-stimulator ligand, or CD275), B7-H3 (CD276), B7-H4 (VTCN1), B7-H5 (VISTA: V-domain Ig suppressor of T cell activation, Dies1: differentiation of embryonic stem cells 1, or C10orf54), butyrophilin like 2 (BTNL2), B7-H6 (NCR3LG1: natural killer cell cytotoxicity receptor 3 ligand 1), B7-H7 (HHLA2: human endogenous retro virus–H long repeat-associating 2), and immunoglobulin like domain containing receptor 2 (ILDR2) [2][3][4][5][6]. Indeed, BTNL2 and ILDR2 are introduced as B7-like molecules, and further investigation is needed. B7 family genes have been linked with various pathological conditions, e.g., cancers, infections, autoimmune diseases, and transplantation complications [6]. Thus, a better understanding of their biology might pave the way for introducing novel strategies to treat the abovementioned diseases and complications.
MicroRNAs (miRs), as small, non-coding RNAs, can bind to their complementary sequences, which are often the mRNA 3′-untranslated regions (3′UTR) of their targets. Since miRs can cleave their target mRNAs by guiding the RNA-induced silencing complex (RISC) to target mRNAs, in order to direct the cleavage of mRNA through Argonaute (AGO) endonuclease activity [7], destabilize their target mRNAs via cutting their poly(A) tail, and make the translation of their target mRNA less effective, they are considered potent post-transcriptional gene regulators [8][9][10]. In higher eukaryotes, miRs can regulate the expression of approximately 60% of genes. It is well-established that miRs can contribute to many biological processes, e.g., cell growth, differentiation, metabolism, and immune response regulation [11][12]. Indeed, miRs can modulate the function of immune cells and regulate the expression of immune checkpoints [13][14][15]. Thus, alteration in miR expression is involved in the pathogenesis of various human diseases, like cancers [11][13][16]. Moreover, miRs can regulate the expression of B7 family members in various diseases; thus, there is a need to properly understand the scope and effect of this regulation in human diseases [17][18].
B7–H3, also referred to as CD276, can regulate the stimulation and inhibition of T cells [19][20]. A variety of cells, e.g., natural killer cells, activated T-cells, dendritic cells, macrophages, and non-hematopoietic cells, can express B7-H3 [21]. Preliminary findings reported that B7-H3 could promote CD4+ and CD8+ T cell proliferation by T cell receptor (TCR) stimulation using immobilized Ig fusion protein [19]. However, it is well-established that B7–H3 can suppress the activation of CD4+ T-cell and the release of effector cytokines [22][23]. This suppression might facilitate the function of transcription factors like nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), and activator protein 1 (AP-1), playing significant roles in T cell function [22]. Moreover, B7-H3 overexpression has been identified in various cancers, e.g., breast [24], lung [25], kidney, prostate [26], and ovarian cancer [27]. Furthermore, the inhibition of B7-H3 has decreased angiogenesis in medulloblastoma, indicating its essential role in tumor angiogenesis [28]. As an overexpressed oncogene in various cancers, MYC has a critical role in cancer development, e.g., angiogenesis, apoptosis, proliferation [29][30]. Since MYC inhibition has been associated with the suppressed expression of B7-H3 in medulloblastoma cells, the MYC-B7-H3 regulatory axis can play an essential role in regulating angiogenesis [28]. It has been indicated that B7-H3 knockdown can repress the PI3K/Akt pathway, resulting in decreased STAT3 activity. Since STAT3 can promote the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP9), B7-H3 can regulate the expression of MMP2 and MMP9 [31]. Moreover, B7-H3 can be involved in inflammatory conditions, e.g., sepsis and bacterial meningitis [32]. Since the mRNA expression of B7–H3 is not as remarkable as its protein expression, the post-transcriptional regulating process might have a considerable effect [21].
B7-H4, also known as B7x, B7S1, and VTCN1, can inhibit cytokine production, proliferation, cell cycle progression, and the stimulation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells [33][34]. Although its transcripts can be found in various tissues, its protein has low expression in most human normal tissues [35]. B7-H4 expression is positively correlated with cancer development in patients with gastric cancer [36], glioma [37], squamous cell esophageal carcinoma [38], renal cell carcinoma [39], pancreatic cancer [40], cholangiocarcinoma [18], ovarian cancer [41], and lung cancer [42]. Since B7-H4 has been associated with cancer development, it can be an appealing target for treating cancer patients [35].
It has been shown that miR-125b-5p has an anti-inflammatory role and can regulate interleukin (IL)-1β-induced inflammatory genes by targeting the TNF receptor associated factor (TRAF6)/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)/NF-κB pathway in human osteoarthritic chondrocytes [43]. However, miR-125b-5p overexpression in macrophages can increase IL-2 secretion and the proliferation of CD8+ T cells. Indeed, miR-125b-5p can target B7-H4 and facilitate inflammation [44]. In line with this, B7-H4 overexpression has been associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer patients [45]. In 24.4% of colorectal cancer patients, single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs13505 GG of B7-H4 can confer an alternate binding site for miR-1207–5p, which might result in downregulation of this gene [46]. Furthermore, TGF-β1 can upregulate B7-H4 and facilitate immune escape via the miR-155/miR-143 axis in colorectal cancer [47].
In 2017, 62 hsa-miRs were identified as regulating B7-H4 in pancreatic cancer [48]. These miRs were mentioned above in the Results section.
B7-H5, also known as VISTA, C10orf54, Dies1, and PD-1H, is a type-I membrane protein that can stimulate terminal differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into cardiomyocytes/neurons via the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway [49]. It has been reported that miR-125a-5p can directly repress the transcription of B7-H5 and inhibit ESC differentiation [50]. B7-H5 also plays a pivotal regulatory function in adipocyte differentiation independently from BMP signaling. In particular, the elevated level of B7-H5 has been shown exclusively in differentiated fat cells and blocked adipocyte differentiation [51]. In B7-H5 knockout mice, the elevation of inflammatory cytokines can result in chronic multi-organ inflammation, indicating the critical role of B7-H5 in suppressing inflammation [52]. In Crohn’s disease, there is a negative association between B7-H5 expression and hsa-miR-16–1 [53]. B7-H5 can serve as a ligand and receptor on T cells, suppressing the activation of naïve and memory T cells [54][55]. The presence of two PKC binding sites in the cytoplasmic region of B7-H5 might indicate that B7-H5 is a receptor [56][57]. B7-H5 can be overexpressed in cancer-associated/cancer-adjacent gastric myofibroblasts. However, B7-H5 expression is generally downregulated in epithelial gastric cancer cells. This can be explained by B7-H5 promoter methylation, the overexpression of miR-125a-5p, or a combination of both, and even the existence of mutant p53 [58]. Indeed, the downregulation of B7-H5 has been associated with de-differentiation and triggered epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in epithelial cells.
B7-H6, also known as NCR3LG1, is a ligand for the NKp30 [59]. B7-H6 sequence is functionally similar to the other B7 family members. Although B7-H6 is not found in normal human tissues, it is highly expressed in cancers, e.g., renal cell carcinoma, leukemia, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and sarcomas [60]. Various factors can regulate B7-H6 expressions, e.g., protease inhibitors, proinflammatory cytokines, natural killer cells, and miRs. Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) and metalloprotease inhibitors can regulate the B7-H6 expression at transcription and post-transcriptional levels, respectively [61]. Following stimulation of CD14+CD16+ neutrophils and monocytes, B7-H6 can be expressed on these proinflammatory immune cells [62]. Tumoral B7-H6 can be recognized and eliminated via natural killer cells. However, metalloproteases can cleave B7-H6 and shield tumor cells from natural killer-mediated immune responses [63]. Bioinformatics analysis has predicted that miR-93, miR-195, and miR-340 can regulate immune responses by targeting B7-H6 in breast cancer cells [64].
B7-H7, which has previously been referred to as B7-H5, is known as the human endogenous retro virus–H long repeat-associating 2 (HHLA2) [65][66]. Its receptors can be found on various immune cells, e.g., monocytes, T cells, B cells, and dendritic cells. TMIGD2, which is referred to as CD28 homolog, is one of the identified B7-H7 receptors [67]. In antigen-presenting cells, B7-H7 co-stimulates the proliferation of naïve T cell and cytokine production across TMIGD2 by serine–threonine kinase AKT phosphorylation. However, the second B7-H7 receptor on activated T cells can exert a coinhibitory role, because activated T cells do not express TMIGD2. The identification of the second receptor might clarify the role of B7-H7 in T cell activation and the tumor microenvironment [68]. It has been reported that B7-H7 is upregulated in lung cancer, osteosarcoma, and breast cancer, and its elevated expression is correlated with a poor prognosis in affected patients [69]. BATF in B lymphocytes and SMAD in monocytes might be involved in the dysregulation of B7-H7 in kidney clear-cell carcinoma. It has been indicated that hsa-miR-6870–5p and hsa-miR-3116 might have a role in this modulatory mechanism [70].
Based on our results, four potential new interactions between B7 family members and miRs have been identified: (1) the hsa-miR-29b-3p/B7-H3 axis, (2) the hsa-miR-29a-3p/B7-H3 axis, (3) the hsa-miR-125a-5p/B7-H4 axis, and (4) the hsa-miR-486-5p/B7-H4 axis. Of these four interactions, the association of different isoforms of miR-29 with B7-H3 has been investigated in previous studies (see above). As mentioned earlier, hsa-miR-125a-5p regulates B7-H5 expression in gastric cancer, but its association with B7-H4 has not been studied. Recent findings have shown that miR-125a-5p plays a pivotal role in suppressing the classical activation of macrophages (M1-type) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, while promoting IL-4-induced expression of the alternative M2 macrophages by targeting KLF13, a transcriptional factor that is involved in T lymphocyte activation and inflammation [71]. In addition, miR-486-5p is an immunomodulatory tumor suppressor miR that has been reported to have key roles in various oncological and non-oncological disorders [72]. Although our knowledge about the role of miR-125a-5p/B7-H4 and miR-486-5p/B7-H4 axes in the immune pathways and the pathogenesis of various diseases is still preliminary, our in silico analysis can pave the way for further investigations.