BackgroundHOTAIR was known to enhance radioresistance in several cancers. However, the function of HOTAIR on radioresistance involving the regulation of HIF-1α in cervical cancer has not been reported.MethodsBALB/c nude mice were injected subcutaneously with HeLa cells and irradiated by X-ray. The tumor volume was measured and the expression of HOTAIR in tumors was detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Western blot was performed to detect the protein level of HIF-1α. MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl) 22,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was used to examine the cell viability and cell apoptosis of HeLa cells and C33A cells exposed to radiation.ResultsRadiotherapy inhibited the tumor growth in mice bearing HeLa cells. Radiotherapy reduced the expression of HOTAIR and HIF-1α in tumor tissues and HeLa cells or C33A cells. HOTAIR overexpression abrogated the effect of radiation on the cell viability and cell apoptosis of HeLa and C33A cells. HOTAIR also upregulated the expression of HIF-1α in HeLa and C33A cell exposed to radiation. HIF-1α knockdown reversed increasing cell viability and reducing apoptosis of HeLa and C33A cell induced by HOTAIR overexpression. HOTAIR overexpression promoted tumor growth in mice bearing HeLa and exposed to radiation.ConclusionRadiotherapy might inhibit cervical cancer cell growth through HOTAIR/HIF-1α pathway.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1186/s13014-018-1153-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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Natural killer (NK) cell‐based immunotherapy holds prominent potential for cancer treatment. However, its application in solid tumors is limited by a rapid decline in viability and function, as well as inadequate homing and infiltration. Herein, a generalized strategy is offered to construct a bio‐orthogonal targeted live‐cell nanocarrier (N3‐NK‐NPs) by coupling with responsive released interleukin‐21 (IL‐21) nanoparticles (ILNPs) on glyco‐engineered NK cell surfaces. Complementary bio‐orthogonal groups (azide (N3)/bicyclo [6.1.0] nonyne (BCN), serving as an artificial ligand receptor are separately implanted into NK cells (N3‐NK) and tumor cells (BCN‐Raji) via nondestructive metabolic glycoengineering. The bio‐orthogonal strategy effectively promotes the specific recognition and migration of NK cells, showing nearly fourfold deeper infiltration in tumor than control groups. Compared with traditional systemic administration, ILNPs hitchhiking on cell vectors selectively in situ releases the IL‐21 adjuvant in the tumor to produce effective and continuous “pseudo‐autocrine” stimulation surrounding NK cells under a low dose (5 µg kg–1), which greatly promotes proliferation and activation of NK cells, resulting in enhanced therapeutic potential while limiting systemic toxicity. Importantly, live‐cell nanocarrier effectively activates innate immune system through IL‐21 triggered recruitment of multiple immunocytes, significantly improving tumor immune microenvironment. This in situ activated NK cell nanocarrier with bio‐orthogonal targeting provides a universal and powerful strategy for immune cells activation and solid tumor immunotherapy.