Interleukin (IL)-10-producing B cells (B10 cells) plays an important role in the
tumor tolerance. High frequency of peripheral B10 cell was reported in patients with
lung cancer recently.
Micro RNA (miR) regulates some gene expression. This study test a hypothesis that miR-98 suppresses the expression of
IL-10 in B cells of subjects with
lung cancer. The results showed that the levels of miR-98 were significantly less in peripheral B cells of patients with
lung cancer than that in healthy subjects.
IL-10 mRNA levels in peripheral B cells were significantly higher in
lung cancer patients as compared with healthy controls. A negative correlation was identified between miR-98 and
IL-10 in peripheral B cells. Serum
IL-13 was higher in
lung cancer patients than that in healthy controls. The levels of
IL-13 were also negatively correlated with
IL-10 in B cells. Exposure B10 cells to
IL-13 in the culture or over expression of miR-98 reduced the expression of
IL-10 in B cells. Administration with miR-98-laden
liposomes inhibited the
lung cancer growth in a mouse model. In conclusion, up regulation of miR-98 inhibits the expression of
IL-10 in B cells, which may contribute to inhibit the
lung cancer tolerance in the body.