Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39998891›Full record

ArticleJCI insight2025

Atypical memory B cells acquire Breg phenotypes in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Shi Yong Neo, Timothy Wai Ho Shuen, Shruti Khare, Joni Chong, Maichan Lau, Niranjan Shirgaonkar, Levene Chua, Junzhe Zhao, Keene Lee, Charmaine Tan and 25 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in JCI insight, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
  6. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

35 authors.

Shi Yong NeoSingapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
Timothy Wai Ho ShuenDivision of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Shruti KhareLaboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
Joni ChongSingapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
Maichan LauSingapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
Niranjan ShirgaonkarLaboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
Levene ChuaSingapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
Junzhe ZhaoDivision of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Keene LeeSingapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
Charmaine TanDivision of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Rebecca BaDivision of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Janice LimDivision of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Joelle ChuaDivision of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Hui Shi CheongDivision of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Hui Min ChaiDivision of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Chung Yip ChanDepartment of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Alexander Yaw Fui ChungDepartment of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Peng Chung CheowDepartment of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Prema Raj JeyarajDepartment of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Jin Yao TeoDepartment of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Ye Xin KohDepartment of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Aik Yong ChokDepartment of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Pierce Kah Hoe ChowDepartment of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Brian GohDepartment of Hepato-pancreato-biliary and Transplant Surgery, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Wei Keat WanDepartment of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Wei Qiang LeowDepartment of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Tracy Jie Zhen LohDepartment of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Po Yin TangDepartment of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Jayanthi KarunanithiDepartment of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Nye Thane NgoDepartment of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Tony Kiat Hon LimDepartment of Anatomical Pathology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Shengli XuSingapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
Ramanuj DasguptaLaboratory of Precision Oncology and Cancer Evolution, Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.
Han Chong TohDivision of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore, Singapore.
Kong-Peng LamSingapore Immunology Network (SIgN), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), Singapore.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The functional plasticity of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte B-cells (TIL-B) spans from antitumor responses to noncanonical immune suppression. Yet, how the tumor microenvironment (TME) influences TIL-B development is still underappreciated. Our current study integrated single-cell transcriptomics and B cell receptor (BCR) sequencing to profile TIL-B phenotypes and clonalities in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Using trajectory and gene regulatory network analysis, we were able to characterize plasma cells and memory and naive B cells within the HCC TME and further revealed a downregulation of BCR signaling genes in plasma cells and a subset of inflammatory TNF+ memory B cells. Within the TME, a nonswitched memory B cell subset acquired an age-associated B cell phenotype (TBET+CD11c+) and expressed higher levels of PD-L1, CD25, and granzyme B. We further demonstrated that the presence of HCC tumor cells could confer suppressive functions on peripheral blood B cells that in turn, dampen T cell costimulation. To the best of our knowledge, these findings represent novel mechanisms of noncanonical immune suppression in HCC. While previous studies identified atypical memory B cells in chronic hepatitis and across several solid cancer types, we further highlighted their potential role as regulatory B cells (Bregs) within both the TME and peripheral blood of HCC patients.

Indexed as

B-Lymphocytes, RegulatoryCarcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsLymphocytes, Tumor-InfiltratingMemory B CellsAgedFemaleHumansImmunologic MemoryMaleMiddle AgedPhenotypeReceptors, Antigen, B-CellSingle-Cell AnalysisTumor MicroenvironmentReceptors, Antigen, B-CellAdaptive immunityHepatologyImmunology

Identifiers

PMID39998891
PMCPMC11981623

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.