miR-22 and miR-30e Mediated Regulation of the SLC2A3/NLRP3 Axis in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

Objective: This research explores the regulation of SLC2A3 and NLRP3 genes in cancers of the head and neck region, including oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), focusing on their contribution to tumor progression and the regulatory effects of specific miRNAs. Methods: SLC2A3 and NLRP3 gene expressions in HNSC were analyzed using the GEPIA database with TCGA and GTEx data. Protein-protein interactions were predicted via the STRING database, while miRNA-mRNA interactions were examined using miRDB. RT-qPCR was used to analyze gene expression in tissue samples obtained from 50 individuals with OSCC and 6 non-cancerous controls, while miRNA levels were measured using TaqMan™ Advanced miRNA Assays. Statistical analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Results: SLC2A3 levels were markedly elevated in HNSC tumor samples relative to non-cancerous tissues (p = 0.01) and showed a progressive increase with advancing tumor stages (p = 0.0059). NLRP3 expression was found to be higher in HNSC (p = 0.01) without any significant association with tumor progression. In OSCC, both SLC2A3 and NLRP3 expressions increased with tumor stage and were strongly correlated (p < 0.0001). Elevated NLRP3 was associated with reduced survival rates (p = 0.0001). miR-22 and miR-30e levels decreased with tumor progression and were linked to poor survival (p