查看文章

Hu Antigen R, also known as ELAVL1 (HuR), is a key posttranscriptional regulator in eukaryotic cells. HuR overexpression promotes several malignancies, including head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, its immune dysfunction-associated tumorigenesis pathways remain unknown. We examined HuR's effects on oral malignancies and immune cell function in vitro and in vivo using oral carcinoma cells and transgenic HuR knockout (KO) mice. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated HuR deletion in mice syngeneic oral cancer cells eliminated colony formation and tumor development. HuR-KO tumors had a lower tumor volume, fewer CD4⁺CD25+FoxP3+ regulatory T cells, and more CD8⁺ T cells, suggesting that HuR may suppress the immune response during oral cancer progression. In contrast, HuR KO oral epithelial tissues are resistant to 4NQO-induced oral malignancies compared to control tumor …