Figure 5. HCC-derived FcγRII^low/− B cells suppressed cytotoxic T-cell function via IL-10 signals.

(a) Detection of CD8 (green) and CD20 (red) (n=6) in peritumoral stroma by immunofluorescence. Scale bar, 100 μm. (b) Associations of tumour FcγRII^low/− B cells with granzyme B⁺, perforin⁺, TNF-α⁺ and IFN-γ⁺ CD8 T cells (n=20). (c) Expression of IL-10R on CD8⁺ T cells from paired blood and HCC tumour were determined by FACS (n=6). (d,e) HCC tumour-derived CD8⁺ T cells were left untreated or cultured with sorted tumour FcγRII^low/− B cells in the presence or absence of an anti-IL10R or a control Ab. FACS analysis of TNF-α, IFN-γ expression in CD8⁺ T cells is shown. Results represent three independent experiments (n=5). *P<0.05, **P<0.01 (Student's t-test). Error bars, s.e.m.