TY  - JOUR
AU  - Bao, Jiantong
AU  - Betzler, Annika C
AU  - Hess, Jochen
AU  - Brunner, Cornelia
TI  - Exploring the dual role of B cells in solid tumors: implications for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
JO  - Frontiers in immunology
VL  - 14
SN  - 1664-3224
CY  - Lausanne
PB  - Frontiers Media
M1  - DKFZ-2023-02144
SP  - 1233085
PY  - 2023
AB  - In the tumor milieu of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), distinct B cell subpopulations are present, which exert either pro- or anti-tumor activities. Multiple factors, including hypoxia, cytokines, interactions with tumor cells, and other immune infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), alter the equilibrium between the dual roles of B cells leading to cancerogenesis. Certain B cell subsets in the tumor microenvironment (TME) exhibit immunosuppressive function. These cells are known as regulatory B (Breg) cells. Breg cells suppress immune responses by secreting a series of immunosuppressive cytokines, including IL-10, IL-35, TGF-β, granzyme B, and adenosine or dampen effector TILs by intercellular contacts. Multiple Breg phenotypes have been discovered in human and mouse cancer models. However, when compartmentalized within a tertiary lymphoid structure (TLS), B cells predominantly play anti-tumor effects. A mature TLS contains a CD20+ B cell zone with several important types of B cells, including germinal-center like B cells, antibody-secreting plasma cells, and memory B cells. They kill tumor cells via antibody-dependent cytotoxicity and phagocytosis, and local complement activation effects. TLSs are also privileged sites for local T and B cell coordination and activation. Nonetheless, in some cases, TLSs may serve as a niche for hidden tumor cells and indicate a bad prognosis. Thus, TIL-B cells exhibit bidirectional immune-modulatory activity and are responsive to a variety of immunotherapies. In this review, we discuss the functional distinctions between immunosuppressive Breg cells and immunogenic effector B cells that mature within TLSs with the focus on tumors of HNSCC patients. Additionally, we review contemporary immunotherapies that aim to target TIL-B cells. For the development of innovative therapeutic approaches to complement T-cell-based immunotherapy, a full understanding of either effector B cells or Breg cells is necessary.
KW  - head and neck cancer (Other)
KW  - immunotherapy (Other)
KW  - regulatory B cells (Other)
KW  - tertiary lymphoid structures (Other)
KW  - tumor microenvironment (Other)
KW  - tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (Other)
LB  - PUB:(DE-HGF)16
C6  - pmid:37868967
C2  - pmc:PMC10586314
DO  - DOI:10.3389/fimmu.2023.1233085
UR  - https://inrepo02.dkfz.de/record/284944
ER  -