The Tumor Microenvironment Shapes Innate Lymphoid Cells in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

ABSTRACT: Objective: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents a typical inflammation-associated cancer. Tissue resident innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) have been suggested to control tumor surveillance. Here we studied how the local cytokine milieu controls ILCs in HCC. Design: We performed bulk RNA sequencing of HCC tissue as well as flow cytometry and single-cell RNA sequencing of enriched ILCs from non-tumor liver, margin and tumor core derived from 48 HCC patients. Simultaneous measurement of protein and RNA expression at the single-cell level (AbSeq) identified precise signatures of ILC subgroups. In-vitro culturing of ILCs was used to validate findings from in-silico analysis. Analysis of RNA-sequencing data from large HCC cohorts allowed stratification and survival analysis based on transcriptomic signatures. Results: RNA sequencing of tumor, non-tumor and margin identified tumor-dependent gradients of which were not only associated with poor survival but also control ILC plasticity. Single-cell RNA sequencing and flow cytometry of ILCs from HCC livers identified NK-like cells in the non-tumor tissue, losing their cytotoxic profile as they transitioned into tumor ILC1 and NK-like-ILC3 cells. Tumor ILC composition was mediated by cytokine gradients that directed ILC plasticity towards activated tumor ILC2s. This was liver-specific and not seen in ILCs from PBMC. Patients with high ILC2/ILC1 ratio expressed IL-33 in the tumor that promoted ILC2 generation which was associated with better survival. Conclusion: Our results suggest that the tumor cytokine milieu controls ILC composition and HCC outcome. Specific changes of cytokines modify ILC composition in the tumor by inducing plasticity and alter ILC function.

ORGANISM(S): Homo sapiens

PROVIDER: GSE179746 | GEO | 2021/08/11

REPOSITORIES: GEO