Targeting Exosomal EBV-LMP1 Transfer and miR-203 Expression via the NF-κB Pathway: The Therapeutic Role of Aspirin in NPC

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an invasive head-and-neck tumor with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) as an important etiological cause. The EBV oncoprotein Latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) can be trafficked into exosomes with unclear roles, and this trafficking is a potential problem in NPC control. MicroRNA-203 (miR-203) was found by us to be downregulated by LMP1, and it functions as a tumor suppressor in NPC. In this study, aspirin reversed the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by promoting miR-203 expression in cells, and, remarkably, it repressed exosomal LMP1 (exo-LMP1) secretion from EBV-positive cells. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) activation was required for the exo-LMP1 production. The exo-LMP1 uptake influenced the EMT potential of EBV-negative recipient NPC cells. The exo-LMP1 level was upregulated in clinical NPC plasma samples. Aspirin treatment observably inhibited NPC lung metastasis in nude mice. The study revealed that aspirin is a promising drug for NPC therapy via its targeting of exo-LMP1 transfer and the regulatory effect of LMP1 on miR-203 expression. EBV can regulate its own tumorigenesis via the LMP1/NF-κB/exo-LMP1 axis, opening a new avenue for understanding the pathogenesis of this tumor virus. Our study also provides a rationale for the use of exo-LMP1 or exosomal miR-203 (exo-miR203) in EBV-targeted therapy by aspirin in invasive NPC.