Abstract
BACKGROUND: Emerging evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial roles in regulating immune checkpoint (IC) genes, thereby modulating IC-related pathways and the behavior of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), thus showing significant potential as a treatment modality in combination therapies with IC inhibitors. Although previous studies primarily focused on single cancer types or individual miRNAs, there is a lack of comprehensive research exploring the complex interactions between miRNAs, IC pathways, and TILs in multiple cancer types. METHODS: To address this gap, we developed a database called ImmiR that systematically integrates curated data from scientific literature and bioinformatics analyses and defines IC pathways and their ligands/receptors. Using integrated bioinformatics approaches, ImmiR investigated the interactions between miRNAs and IC genes, as well as the associations between miRNAs and TILs. RESULTS: ImmiR identified miRNAs targeting genes across 32 immune checkpoint pathways and found associations with 84 immune cell types. As a user-friendly web-based platform, ImmiR provides functional visualizations that facilitate the identification of significant associations from various perspectives such as miRNAs, IC genes/pathways, and cancer types. The database is freely accessible at https://immir.bioinfomics.org/. CONCLUSIONS: By filling gaps in data resources, ImmiR serves as a vital tool for discovering novel therapeutic targets, refining miRNA-based immunotherapies, and advancing precision medicine in cancer immunotherapy.