Table 1.
Interaction between resident liver cells and cancer cells
| Resident cells | Interacting molecule(s) | Major effects |
|---|---|---|
| LSECs | Mannose receptor and scavenger receptor | Internalise, process and transfer antigens through MHC I and MHC II to T cells |
| PD-L1–PD-1 | Induce CD8+ T-cell tolerance to trigger immune escape of cancer cells | |
| IFNγ, NO and Fas–FasL | Induce apoptosis of cancer cells | |
| CXCL16 | Recruit NKT cells to fight cancer cells | |
| E-selectin, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, sialyl Lewis-x, PSGL-1 and ESL-1 | Facilitate the adherence of cancer cells to LSECs and their migration into the space of Disse to protect them from elimination | |
| LSECtin | Suppress T-cell immune responses and promote the adhesion and metastasis of CRC to the liver | |
| KCs | TNF-α, IL-1α and IL-1β | Phagocytose and eliminate disseminated cancer cells |
| MHC II and PD-L1–PD-1 | Expand Treg cells to induce an immune-tolerant environment | |
| TGF-β, fibronectin, EGF, VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9 and MMP-13 | Lead to ECM remodelling, angiogenesis and cancer progression | |
| Exosomal miR-135a-5p | Mediate immunosuppression and facilitate the formation of a pre-metastatic niche | |
| HSCs | TGF-β, fibronectin, EGF, VEGF, MMP-2, MMP-9, and MMP-13 | Lead to ECM remodelling, angiogenesis and cancer progression |
| TGF-β | Promote ECM remodelling | |
| Exosomal miR-181a-5p | Facilitate CRLM by activating HSCs | |
| Hepatocytes | Integrins or desmosomes | Mediate the adhesion of CRC cells to hepatocytes |
| Integrins and heregulin | Boost the migration and LM of CRC | |
| SAA | Reshape the hepatic immune and fibrogenic microenvironment to promote LM | |
| IGF-1 | Promote cancer growth and metastasis |
MHC I Major histocompatibility complex class I, MHC II Major histocompatibility complex class II, SAA Serum amyloid A1 and A2, IGF-1 Insulin-like growth factor-I