Cancer-associated fibroblast-derived CXCL11 modulates hepatocellular carcinoma cell migration and tumor metastasis through the circUBAP2/miR-4756/IFIT1/3 axis

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are commonly acquired activated extracellular matrix (ECM)-producing myofibroblasts, a phenotypes with multiple roles in hepatic fibrogenesis and carcinogenesis via crosstalk with cohabitating stromal/cancer cells. Here, we discovered a mechanism whereby CAF-derived cytokines enhance hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression and metastasis by activating the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA axis in tumor cells. CAFs secreted significantly higher levels of CXCL11 than normal fibroblasts (NFs), and CXCL11 also had comparatively higher expressions in HCC tissues, particularly in metastatic tissues, than para-carcinoma tissues. Both CAF-derived and experimentally introduced CXCL11 promoted HCC cell migration. Likewise, CAFs promoted tumor migration in orthotopic models, as shown by an increased number of tumor nodules, whereas CXCL11 silencing triggered a decrease of it. CXCL11 stimulation upregulated circUBAP2 expression, which was significantly higher in HCC tissues than para-carcinoma tissues. Silencing circUBAP2 reversed the effects of CXCL11 on the expression of IL-1β/IL-17 and HCC cell migration. Further downstream, the IFIT1 and IFIT3 levels were significantly upregulated in HCC cells upon CXCL11 stimulation, but downregulated upon circUBAP2 silencing. IFIT1 or IFIT3 silencing reduced the expression of IL-17 and IL-1β, and attenuated the migration capability of HCC cells. Herein, circUBAP2 counteracted miR-4756-mediated inhibition on IFIT1/3 via sponging miR-4756. miR-4756 inhibition reversed the effects induced by circUBAP2 silencing on the IL-17 and IL-1β levels and HCC cell migration. In orthotopic models, miR-4756 inhibition also reversed the effects on metastatic progression induced by silencing circUBAP2.