Table 1. . Role of different innate immune components in hepatocellular carcinoma.
| Immune component | Function(s) in HCC |
|---|---|
| KC | Promote immunosuppression and hepatocarcinogenesis Correlate with tumor progression in humans |
| DC | Act as messengers between the innate and the adaptive immune systems Promote immunotolerance Association to initiation and progression of HCC Indirectly promote proliferation of transformed hepatocytes through inhibitory effects on CD8+ T cells Increased numbers were found in human HCC |
| Myeloid-derived suppressor cells | Suppress both the arms of immune system: innate and adaptive immunity Induced from monocytes/macrophages by differentiation signals from the tumor environment and stellate cells Support tumor growth Promote the expansion of Tregs Promote the conversion of CD4+ T cells into Tr1 cells |
| Neutrophils | Promote hepatocarcinogenesis Interact with KCs and recruit Tregs as well as macrophages to promote immune tolerance Promote resistance to sorafenib |
| NK cells | Antifibrotic activity through targeting activated HSCs Diminished function during the development of HCC Promote angiogenesis through MMP9, cytotoxic activity Reduced amounts of NK cells were found in HCC lesions, and the number of CD56+ NK cells was correlated with the prognosis in HCC patients |
| NKT cells | Directly activate HSCs Prevent progression of β-catenin-driven HCC Involved in the immune surveillance of senescent hepatocytes Increased number in human NASH, cirrhosis and HCC |