TGF-β-driven NK Cells plasticity in hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality, with limited curative options for advanced disease. Natural Killer (NK) cells are critical innate immune effectors, but their anti-tumor function is severely compromised by the immunosuppressive tumor immune microenvironment (TIME), particularly through transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β). This study investigates the pivotal role of TGF-β signaling in modulating NK cell phenotypes and functions within the HCC TIME.

Methods

to comprehensively assess TGF-β pathway activation and its impact on NK cells, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and liver-infiltrating lymphocytes (LILs) were isolated from HCC patients undergoing curative resection. Phenotypic and functional analyses were pe

SUBMITTER: Reverberi V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12627035 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature