The miR-876-5p/SOCS4/STAT3 pathway induced the expression of PD-L1 and suppressed antitumor immune responses.

ABSTRACT: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remains a formidable challenge due to its high recurrence rates and poor prognosis. This study focuses on miR-876, a microRNA significantly associated with OSCC recurrence and clinical outcomes. Analysis of miRNA expression profiles from recurrent OSCC patients revealed that miR-876-5p is markedly upregulated in recurrent tumor tissues and the high expression of miR-876-5p correlates with reduced disease-free and overall survival. Functional assays demonstrated that miR-876 enhances OSCC cell growth, migration, and stemness, contributing to chemoresistance. Mechanistically, miR-876-5p directly targets SOCS4, leading to increased STAT3 activation and subsequent upregulation of PD-L1, which facilitates immune evasion. Additionally, exposure to the tobacco-

SUBMITTER: Peng HY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11938556 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature