Single-cell profiling of human CD127+ innate lymphoid cells reveals diverse immune phenotypes in hepatocellular carcinoma

Background and Aims Innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) are tissue-resident lymphocytes that play critical roles in cytokine-mediated regulation of homeostasis and inflammation. However, relationships between their immune phenotypic characteristics and HCC remain largely unexplored. Approach and Results We performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis on sorted hepatic ILC cells from human patients with HCC and validated using flow cytometry, multiplex immunofluorescence staining, and functional experiments. Moreover, we applied selection strategies to enrich ILC populations in HCC samples to investigate the effects of B cells on the immune reaction of inducible T cell costimulator (ICOS)(+) ILC2 cells. Dysregulation of ILCs was manifested by the changes in cell numbers or subset proportions in HCC. Seven subsets of 3433 ILCs were identified with unique properties, of which ICOS+ ILC2a were preferentially enriched in HCC and correlated with poor prognosis. Mechanistically, we report that B cells, particularly resting naive B cells, have a previously unrecognized function that is involved in inflammatory differentiation of ILC2 cells. B cell-derived ICOSL signaling was responsible for exacerbating inflammation through the increased production of IL-13 in ICOS+ ILC2a cells. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) genes Heat Shock Protein Family A Member 1A (HSPA1A) and Heat Shock Protein Family A Member 1B (HSPA1B) were highly expressed in ILC2s in late-stage HCC, and targeting to ICOS and its downstream effector HSP70 in ILC2s suppressed tumor growth and remodeled the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Conclusions This in-depth understanding sheds light on B cell-driven innate type 2 inflammation and provides a potential strategy for HCC immunotherapy.

Automated summary

This study investigated the immune phenotypic characteristics of ILC cells and the role of B cells in the inflammatory differentiation of ILC2 cells in HCC. Dysregulation of ILC cells and enrichment of the ICOS+ ILC2a subset were found in HCC and correlated with poor prognosis. B cells were found to play a role in inflammatory differentiation of ILC2 cells through ICOSL signaling and increased IL-13 production. Targeting ICOS and HSP70 suppressed tumor growth and remodeled the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, providing a potential strategy for HCC immunotherapy.