BACKGROUND Recent evidence has indicated the role of B cells and B cell-activating factor(BAFF)in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).AIM To characterize circulating BAFF receptor expression and B cell su...BACKGROUND Recent evidence has indicated the role of B cells and B cell-activating factor(BAFF)in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).AIM To characterize circulating BAFF receptor expression and B cell subpopulations in patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related HCC.METHODS Peripheral blood samples collected from 41 patients with chronic HBV infection(25 patients without HCC and 16 patients with HCC)and 9 healthy controls were assessed for BAFF receptors[BAFF-R(B cell-activating factor receptor),transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor,B-cell maturation antigen]and B cell subpopulations by multicolor flow cytometry.RESULTS The frequency of BAFF-R expressing B cells to total B cells was significantly lower in patients with HCC(3.39%±2.12%)compared with the non-HCC group(5.37%±1.90%)and healthy controls(6.23%±2.32%),whereas there was no difference in transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor and Bcell maturation antigen.The frequencies of CD27+Ig D+memory B cells,CD27+Ig Dclass-switched memory B cells and plasmablasts were significantly lower in the patients with HCC compared to patients without HCC(1.23±1.17 vs 3.09±1.55,P=0.001,0.60±0.44 vs 1.69±0.86,P<0.0001 and 0.16±0.12 vs 0.37±0.30,P=0.014,respectively).However,the ratio of na?ve and transitional B cell did not differ significantly between the three groups.In addition,decreased BAFF-R expression on B cells was significantly correlated with large tumor size and advanced tumor stage.CONCLUSION Our data demonstrated BAFF-R expression was reduced in B cells that involved with the frequencies of B cells maturation in patients with HCC.The depletion of BAFF-R might play an important role in the development of HCC in patients with chronic HBV infection.展开更多
基金Supported by the Thailand Research Fund,No.RTA6280004the Grant for Chula Research Scholar,No.CU-GRS-61-07-30-02+1 种基金Second Century Fund(C2F),Chulalongkorn Universitythe Center of Excellence in Hepatitis and Liver Cancer,Faculty of Medicine,Chulalongkorn University。
文摘BACKGROUND Recent evidence has indicated the role of B cells and B cell-activating factor(BAFF)in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC).AIM To characterize circulating BAFF receptor expression and B cell subpopulations in patients with hepatitis B virus(HBV)-related HCC.METHODS Peripheral blood samples collected from 41 patients with chronic HBV infection(25 patients without HCC and 16 patients with HCC)and 9 healthy controls were assessed for BAFF receptors[BAFF-R(B cell-activating factor receptor),transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor,B-cell maturation antigen]and B cell subpopulations by multicolor flow cytometry.RESULTS The frequency of BAFF-R expressing B cells to total B cells was significantly lower in patients with HCC(3.39%±2.12%)compared with the non-HCC group(5.37%±1.90%)and healthy controls(6.23%±2.32%),whereas there was no difference in transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor and Bcell maturation antigen.The frequencies of CD27+Ig D+memory B cells,CD27+Ig Dclass-switched memory B cells and plasmablasts were significantly lower in the patients with HCC compared to patients without HCC(1.23±1.17 vs 3.09±1.55,P=0.001,0.60±0.44 vs 1.69±0.86,P<0.0001 and 0.16±0.12 vs 0.37±0.30,P=0.014,respectively).However,the ratio of na?ve and transitional B cell did not differ significantly between the three groups.In addition,decreased BAFF-R expression on B cells was significantly correlated with large tumor size and advanced tumor stage.CONCLUSION Our data demonstrated BAFF-R expression was reduced in B cells that involved with the frequencies of B cells maturation in patients with HCC.The depletion of BAFF-R might play an important role in the development of HCC in patients with chronic HBV infection.