Fig. 4
From: Hypoxia-inducible factors: master regulators of hypoxic tumor immune escape
Effects of lncRNAs on hypoxic tumor immune escape. HIF1A induces lncRNA overexpression, inhibiting cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1A (CDKN1A) expression by recruiting enhancer of zeste 2 polycomb repressive complex 2 subunit (EZH2) and causing tumor progression. Under hypoxia, lncRNAs inhibit tumor cell apoptosis by regulating the BAX/BCL2 ratio. Hypoxia induces production of lncRNA-containing exosomes in tumor cells and promotes proliferation, migration, and invasion. Notably, lncRNAs also contribute to immune escape by increasing Tregs levels, inhibiting CTLs, and modulating the sensitivity of tumor-infiltrating T cells to apoptosis