Overexpression of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 induces the alteration of immune status in H1299 lung cancer cells

BACKGROUND Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1 (4E-BP1) is an important factor regulating protein translation. It also impacts proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and the cell cycle of cancer cells. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between 4E-BP1 and human immune status, recognizing immunomodulatory molecules involved in the overexpression of 4E-BP1. METHODS A lentivirus expression system was used to overexpress 4E-BP1 in the H1299 cell line. Western blot was performed to investigate the expression level of 4E-BP1 and P-4E-BP1, and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was used to quantify gene expression of immunomodulatory molecules. RESULTS The expression level of 4E-BP1 increased significantly after lentivirus infection (P < 0.05). Overexpression of 4E-BP1 upregulated the expression of interleukin (IL)-1β (P < 0.05), IL-5 (P < 0.001), IL-23 (P < 0.001), macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (P < 0.001), Eota-3 (P < 0.05), and MCP-4 (P < 0.05). Most of the increases were observed at the seventh day. The variation trend of IL-10, cell division cycle protein 2, proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and phosphatase and tensin homolog was not clear. CONCLUSION Overexpression of 4E-BP1 altered immune status by upregulating the expression of a series of immunomodulatory molecules, indicating that 4E-BP1 could serve as a potential therapeutic target against cancer.