Tumor-associated macrophages promoting PD-L1 expression in infiltrating B cells through the CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in human hepatocellular carcinoma.

The inflammation-related tumor microenvironment (TME) is one of the major driving forces of hepatocarcinogenesis. We aimed to investigate cell-to-cell communication among Hepatocellular Carcinoma (HCC) through re-analyzing HCC single-cell RNA-seq data, and to confirm such cellular interaction through and study. We found a subset of Regulatory B cells with PD-L1 expression (PD-L1 Bregs), mainly located in adjacent HCC tissues.

Ileitis promotes MASLD progression via bile acid modulation and enhanced TGR5 signaling in ileal CD8 T cells.

Background & Aims: Clinical evidence substantiates a link between inflammatory bowel disease, particularly Crohn's disease (CD), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). This study aims to explore the underlying molecular mechanisms responsible for this association.

Methods: MASLD was induced by administering high-fat and western diets, while inflammatory bowel disease was induced using DSS (dextran sulfate sodium) and the Il10 knockout (KO) mouse model.

The XOR-IDH3α axis controls macrophage polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background & Aims: Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are indispensable in the hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) tumor microenvironment. Xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR), also known as xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH), participates in purine metabolism, uric acid production, and macrophage polarization to a pro-inflammatory phenotype. However, the role of XOR in HCC-associated TAMs is unclear.

BCL-2 expression promotes immunosuppression in chronic lymphocytic leukemia by enhancing regulatory T cell differentiation and cytotoxic T cell exhaustion.

Background: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) results in increased susceptibility to infections. T cell dysfunction is not associated with CLL in all patients; therefore, it is important to identify CLL patients with T cell defects. The role of B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2) in CLL has been explored; however, few studies have examined its role in T cells in CLL patients.

Prognostic value of novel immune-related genomic biomarkers identified in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

Background: The immune response within the tumor microenvironment plays a key role in tumorigenesis and determines the clinical outcomes of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, to date, a paucity of robust, reliable immune-related biomarkers has been identified that are capable of estimating prognosis in HNSCC patients.

Methods: High-throughput RNA sequencing was performed in tumors and matched adjacent tissues from five HNSCC patients, and the immune signatures expression of 730 immune-related transcripts selected from the nCounter PanCancer Immune Profiling Panel were assessed.