2. Academic Validation
  3. Atypical memory B cells acquire Breg phenotypes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Atypical memory B cells acquire Breg phenotypes in hepatocellular carcinoma

  • JCI Insight. 2025 Feb 25:e187025. doi: 10.1172/jci.insight.187025.
Shi Yong Neo 1,  Timothy Wai Ho Shuen 2,  Shruti Khare 3,  Joni Chong 1,  Maichan Lau 1,  Niranjan Shirgaonkar 3,  Levene Chua 1,  Junzhe Zhao 2,  Keene Lee 1,  Charmaine Tan 2,  Rebecca Ba 2,  Janice Lim 2,  Joelle Chua 2,  Hui Shi Cheong 2,  Hui Min Chai 2,  Chung Yip Chan 4,  Alexander Yaw Fui Chung 4,  Peng Chung Cheow 4,  Prema Raj Jeyaraj 4,  Jin Yao Teo 4,  Ye Xin Koh 4,  Aik Yong Chok 4,  Pierce Kah Hoe Chow 4,  Brian Goh 4,  Wei Keat Wan 5,  Wei Qiang Leow 5,  Tracy Jie Zhen Loh 5,  Po Yin Tang 5,  Jayanthi Karunanithi 5,  Nye Thane Ngo 5,  Tony Kiat Hon Lim 5,  Shengli Xu 1,  Ramanuj Dasgupta 3,  Han Chong Toh 2,  Kong-Peng Lam 1
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Singapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
  • 2 Division of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.
  • 3 Laboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore, Singapore.
  • 4 Department of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
  • 5 Department of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore.
PMID: 39998891 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.187025
Abstract

The functional plasticity of tumor-infiltrating B (TIL-B) cells spans from anti-tumor responses to non-canonical immune suppression. Yet, how tumor microenvironment (TME) influences TIL-B development is still underappreciated. Our current study integrated single cell transcriptomics and BCR (B cell receptor) Sequencing to profile TIL-B phenotypes and clonalities in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using trajectory and gene regulatory network analysis, we were able to characterize plasma cells, memory and naïve B cells within the HCC TME and further revealed a downregulation of BCR-signaling genes in plasma cells and a subset of inflammatory TNF+ memory B cells. Within the TME, non-switch memory B cell subset acquires an age-associated B cell phenotype (TBET+, CD11c+) and expressed higher levels of PD-L1, CD25 and granzyme B. We further demonstrated that the presence of HCC tumor cells could confer suppressive functions on peripheral blood B cells which in turn, dampen T cell co-stimulation. To the best of our knowledge, these findings represent novel mechanisms of non-canonical immune suppression in HCC. While previous studies identified atypical memory B cells in chronic hepatitis and across several solid Cancer types, we further highlighted their potential role as regulatory B cells (Bregs) within both the TME and peripheral blood of HCC patients.

Keywords

Adaptive immunity; Hepatology; Immunology.

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