Impaired function of CD4+ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells associated with hepatocellular carcinoma progression.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND AND AIMS:CD4+ T follicular helper (Tfh) cells, a new subset of immune cells, have been demonstrated to be involved in the development and prognosis of tumors. However, their functional role in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is relatively unknown, and the detailed mechanisms in HCC development remain to be described. METHODS:A total of 85 HCC patients with hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, 25 HBV-relative liver cirrhosis (LC) patients, and 20 healthy controls (HC) were randomly enrolled. Flow cytometric analysis, immunohistochemical staining, and relative function (i.e., cytokine secretion, B cell maturation) assays were used to analyze the properties of CXCR5+CD4+ T cells. In addition, the relationship between the frequency of CXCR5+CD4+ T cells and overall survival rates

SUBMITTER: Jia Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4331507 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature