Polarization of Tissue-Resident TFH-Like Cells in Human Hepatoma Bridges Innate Monocyte Inflammation and M2b Macrophage Polarization

Abstract

We identified a novel protumorigenic IL21⁺ T_FH-like cell subset with a CXCR5^-PD-1^- BTLA^-CD69^hi tissue-resident phenotype in hepatoma. TLR4-mediated monocyte inflammation and subsequent T-cell STAT1 and STAT3 activation are critical for T_FH-like cell induction. T_FH-like cells operate via IL21-IFNγ pathways to induce plasma cells and create conditions for M2b macrophage polarization. Cancer Discov; 6(10); 1182-95. ©2016 AACR.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 1069.