Shi-Jun Xu
National Henan Cancer Hospital, China
Title: Small MiRNAs, vital regulators in tumor immunity: With a focus on innate immunity
Biography
Biography: Shi-Jun Xu
Abstract
The tumor microenvironment (TME) is the primary arena where tumor cells and the host immune system interact. Bidirectional communication between tumor cells and the associated stromal cell types within the TME influences disease initiation and progression, as well as tumor immunity. There are multiple types of stromal cells and among them, macrophages and natural killer (NK) cells are the most prevalent. They not only are key players in innate immunity which serves as the first barrier against pathogen infection and as the bridge to connect adaptive immunity, but also play important roles in tumor immunity. Besides, epithelial cells, such as hepatocytes in liver, perform robust innate immune response against pathogen infection and tumor initiation. More importantly, these cells display either pro- or anti-tumor properties, depending on the expression of key regulators. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are emerging as such regulators. They affect not only immune cells but also epithelial cells whose functions closely related to pathogen infection, tumor initiation and tumor evasion of the immune system. In this review we will discuss the role of miRNAs in tumor immunity, focusing particularly on innate immunity related cells such as macrophages, NK cells and hepatocytes.