Tumor endothelial cell-induced CD8⁺ T-cell exhaustion via GPNMB in hepatocellular carcinoma.

ABSTRACT: Tumor endothelial cells (TECs) promote tumor angiogenesis and regulate cytotoxic T cells in the tumor microenvironment. However, the roles of TECs for tumor-infiltrating T-cell in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unknown. Here, we aimed to investigate how TECs influenced tumor growth and immune responses of HCC focusing on CD8⁺ T-cell infiltration and exhaustion. First, TECs were isolated from subcutaneous HCC tumors with murine HCC cell lines (BNL-T) with magnetic selection of CD31⁺ cells, and normal endothelial cells (NECs) were isolated from normal liver. Second, immunocompetent mice were injected with BNL-T alone, BNL-T + NECs, or BNL-T + TECs for tumor formation, and the functions and exhaustion of tumor-infiltrating CD8⁺ T cells were evaluated.

SUBMITTER: Sakano Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9128167 | biostudies-literature | 2022 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature