Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minjun Li, Juntao Huang, Guohua Zhan, Yuankuan Li, Chunye Fang, Bangde Xiang
Summary: A gene signature related to natural killer (NK) cells and the tumor microenvironment (TME) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was developed using single-cell transcriptome data analysis. Patients were stratified into high- and low-risk groups based on their NK-cell-related gene risk scores. The high-risk group had worse prognoses, lower immune cell infiltration levels, and were more likely to be in an immunosuppressive state.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Shuai Wang, Qinchuan Wu, Tianchi Chen, Rong Su, Caixu Pan, Junjie Qian, Hechen Huang, Shengyong Yin, Haiyang Xie, Lin Zhou, Shusen Zheng
Summary: In addition to the classical DC-T cell axis, CD47 blockade significantly enhances the ability of CD103(+) DCs to take up tumor DNA, resulting in the stimulation of the cGAS-STING pathway and the promotion of NK cell infiltration and activation in liver cancer.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tasneem Abaza, Mostafa K. Abd El-Aziz, Kerolos Ashraf Daniel, Paraskevi Karousi, Maria Papatsirou, Sherif Ashraf Fahmy, Nadia M. Hamdy, Christos K. Kontos, Rana A. Youness
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly malignancy with limited treatment options and high recurrence rates. Recently, immunotherapeutic agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs) have shown promise in HCC treatment. CircRNAs can influence the tumor immune microenvironment and may impact the effectiveness of ICIs. Therefore, circRNAs have the potential to serve as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapy in HCC.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Alessandra Zecca, Valeria Barili, Danila Rizzo, Andrea Olivani, Elisabetta Biasini, Diletta Laccabue, Raffaele Dalla Valle, Carlo Ferrari, Elisabetta Cariani, Gabriele Missale
Summary: The study identified different subsets of NK cells infiltrating HCC, including non-liver-resident cells that coexpressed CD49a and Eomes, showing reduced cytotoxic potential. This NK cell subset likely plays a regulatory role in proangiogenic function.
Article
Oncology
Yao Yang, Shaopin She, Liying Ren, Bigeng Zhao, Dongbo Chen, Hongsong Chen
Summary: In this study, NK cell marker genes of HCC were identified and a prognostic signature (NKPS) was developed for risk stratification and prognosis prediction. The predictive value of NKPS in prognosis was validated in different clinical subgroups and external datasets. Functional analysis revealed the association of NKPS with basic cellular processes in HCC. NKPS showed an excellent predictive value for prognosis and therapeutic responses, and provided insights into better management strategies for HCC.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yulai Zeng, Shuyu Hu, Yi Luo, Kang He
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer with unsatisfactory early diagnosis and treatment. Exosomes, containing various components, play a crucial role in the development and prognosis of HCC. Biomarkers in exosomes show potential for novel diagnostic and prognostic tools for HCC.
Article
Oncology
Xian Lu, Chun Xu, Jie Dong, Shuguang Zuo, Hailin Zhang, Chunping Jiang, Junhua Wu, Jiwu Wei
Summary: The study revealed that liraglutide can enhance antitumor immune responses in hepatocellular carcinoma patients by improving NK-mediated cytotoxicity and suppressing the IL-6/STAT3 signaling pathway, indicating a novel therapeutic role of liraglutide in cancer therapy through manipulation of innate immunity.
TRANSLATIONAL ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Stefania Mantovani, Stefania Varchetta, Dalila Mele, Roberta Maiello, Matteo Donadon, Cristiana Soldani, Barbara Franceschini, Guido Torzilli, Giuseppe Tartaglia, Marcello Maestri, Gaetano Piccolo, Matteo Barabino, Enrico Opocher, Stefano Bernuzzi, Mario U. Mondelli, Barbara Oliviero
Summary: This study focuses on the role of the DNAM-1/CD155 axis in mediating the NK cell response in HCC. Evidence of alterations in the axis leading to impaired NK cell cytotoxic function is provided, suggesting a potential mechanism for tumor escape and a target for new immunotherapeutic approaches.
Review
Oncology
Yucheng Zhang, Yali Wang
Summary: Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of non-coding RNAs with closed loop structures, characterized by stability and regulatory roles. Dysregulated expression of circRNAs in HCC is associated with tumor hallmarks, cancer stemness, and immunotherapy. CircRNAs have potential as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HCC.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shuo Li, Hongbo Du, Da'nan Gan, Xiaoke Li, Xiaobin Zao, Yong'an Ye
Summary: In this study, a predictive model based on NK cell-related genes was constructed for prognosis prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients. The effectiveness of the model was validated using various methods, and prognosis-related genes were identified. The results of this study suggest that utilizing NK cell-related genes as innovative biomarkers may improve the prognosis assessment of HCC.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Bin Jiang, Maolin Tian, Gang Li, Abuduhaibaier Sadula, Dianrong Xiu, Chunhui Yuan, Yuntao Bing
Summary: This study explores the function and molecular mechanism of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. The findings reveal that circEPS15 plays a novel role in repressing HCC through the ceRNA network and encodes a functional protein. These discoveries enhance our understanding of HCC and provide new directions for further research and treatment.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Jun-Shuai Xue, Zi-Niu Ding, Guang-Xiao Meng, Lun-Jie Yan, Hui Liu, Hai-Chao Li, Sheng-Yu Yao, Bao-Wen Tian, Zhao-Ru Dong, Zhi-Qiang Chen, Jian-Guo Hong, Dong-Xu Wang, Tao Li
Summary: NK cells and their inhibitory receptors have prognostic value for HCC, with high levels of NK cells associated with better overall survival and disease-free survival. The prognostic role of NK cell activating receptors remains unclear.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Jia Yang, Aydin Eresen, Alessandro Scotti, Kejia Cai, Zhuoli Zhang
Summary: Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common liver malignancy in the United States. Sorafenib is an FDA-approved therapy that extends survival time for HCC patients, but only a small percentage of patients are eligible for surgery. Adoptive transfer of NK cells shows promise for clinical cancer treatment.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Han Jiang, Hao Fu, Tao Min, Ping Hu, Jianlin Shi
Summary: This study proposes a mild magnetocaloric regulation approach using a magnetogenetic nanoplatform (MPFD) to promote the proliferation and activation of tumor-infiltrating NK cells in liver cancer immunotherapy. The magnetothermally responsive MPFD serves as a magnetism-heat nanotransducer to induce the gene transcription of IL-2 cytokine in orthotopic liver tumor for NK cell proliferation and activation.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rao Fu, Fangjing Yu, Weiqi Wu, Juan Liu, Jia Li, Fangyue Guo, Lei Xu, Feng Wang, Xiaonan Cui
Summary: Bufalin can balance NK cell receptors, inhibit MICA shedding, activate NK cells, and enhance immune surveillance.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)