# miR-22-Galectin-1 as an integral signaling axis in regulating metabolism and immunity in HCC

## TL;DR

This study explores how miR-22 and galectin-1 interact to control metabolism and immunity in liver cancer, suggesting a new treatment approach.

## Contribution

The study identifies miR-22-Galectin-1 as a key axis regulating HCC metabolism and immunity, with potential for new therapies.

## Key findings

- miR-22-high HCC shows increased metabolism and immune signaling in early stages and enhanced immunity in late stages.
- miR-22 inhibits tumor growth by reducing matrix remodeling and inflammation in non-tumor areas.
- miR-22's anti-HCC effects depend on Gal-1 silencing, and both target common signaling pathways.

## Abstract

While miR-22 is a suppressor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), galectin-1 (Gal-1) serves as a HCC biomarker. Our previous studies have shown the effectiveness of miR-22 gene therapy and silencing Gal-1 as two potential novel options in treating HCC in preclinical mouse models. This study examines the significance of the miR-22-Gal-1 axis in HCC development and treatment.

The roles of miR-22 and Gal-1 in human HCC were analyzed using the Cancer Genome Atlas database based on their expression levels. The temporal effects of miR-22 were studied by analyzing signaling pathways affected by miR-22 expression levels during HCC progression. AAV8-miR-22, AAV9-Gal-1 siRNA, and LLS30, a Gal-1 inhibitor, were used to treat orthotopic mouse HCC. Spatial transcriptomics established the location-specific effects of miR-22 in mouse HCC. The signaling pathways affected by miR-22 and Gal-1 were identified by analyzing human HCC transcriptomics compared with those found in miR-22, Gal-1 siRNA, or LLS30-treated mouse HCC.

In the early stages of HCC, miR-22-high HCC exhibited extensive upregulation of endobiotic metabolism and xenobiotic detoxification signaling, accompanied by the activation of complement and clotting cascades. In late HCC stages, miR-22-high HCC exhibited heightened innate and adaptive immunity, associated with increased interferon signaling. These impacts were primarily observed in the tumors. At the tumor margin, miR-22 inhibited the Rho GTPase and cell–matrix interaction, revealing its role in reducing matrix remodeling and mobility. In non-tumor areas, miR-22 inhibited inflammation by reducing neutrophil degranulation, platelet activation, chemokine receptor binding, and fiber formation. miR-22, Gal-1 silencing, and LLS30 each exhibited anti-HCC effects and targeted common intracellular signaling pathways. Moreover, the anti-HCC effect of miR-22 was dependent on Gal-1 silencing. miR-22-high/Gal-1-low HCC patients had the best survival outcomes. In addition to the above-mentioned key intracellular pathways, miR-22 gene therapy and Gal-1 siRNA treatment of HCC reduced O-linked glycosylation, suggesting the role of the miR-22-Gal-1 axis in modifying glycosylation, which may affect the extracellular functions of Gal-1.

In summary, the miR-22-Gal-1 axis can be an HCC prognostic biomarker, and it has vital roles in regulating metabolism and tumor immunity.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40364-025-00838-3.