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@ARTICLE{Prawira:303093,
author = {A. Prawira and H. Xu and Y. Mei and N. J. M. Nasir and M.
J. Y. Reolo and M. Otsuka and W. Q. Leow and M. Rahbari$^*$
and Z. Chen$^*$ and M. Weerasooriya and L. B. Abdullah and
J. Wu and S. N. Hazirah and M. Wasser and A. Chung and B. K.
Goh and P. K. Chow and S. Albani and J. Lee and T. K. H. Lim
and W. Zhai and Y. Y. Dan and G. B. Goh and M.
Heikenwälder$^*$ and Y. Zhang and R. Dasgupta and W. M. D.
Tai and H. Liu and J. Chen and V. Chew},
title = {{T}argeting {T}reg-fibroblast interaction to enhance
immunotherapy in steatotic liver disease-related
hepatocellular carcinoma.},
journal = {Gut},
volume = {nn},
issn = {0017-5749},
address = {London},
publisher = {BMJ Publishing Group},
reportid = {DKFZ-2025-01518},
pages = {nn},
year = {2025},
note = {epub},
abstract = {Steatotic liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma
(SLD-HCC), a rising global challenge, is characterised by
unique tumour microenvironment (TME) adaptations.This study
investigates the immune microenvironment and interactions
driving immunosuppression and potential resistance to
immunotherapy in SLD-HCC.We employed single-cell
transcriptomics, cytometry by time-of-flight (CyTOF) and two
independent spatial transcriptomics platforms to study the
TME of 22 SLD-HCC and 31 non-SLD-HCC cases. Findings were
further validated using multiplex immunohistochemistry in an
independent cohort of 103 patients, an HCC model and an
immunotherapy-treated patient cohort to evaluate clinical
relevance.Our findings revealed significant alterations in
immune and lipid metabolism pathways, particularly in
regulatory T cells (Tregs) and cancer-associated fibroblasts
(CAFs), suggesting distinct cellular adaptations to a
high-fat TME and general immunosuppression. CyTOF revealed a
cold, immunosuppressive TME with reduced CD8+ T cells and
increased Tregs. Spatial transcriptomics further highlighted
distinct Treg-CAF clusters localised at tumour margins,
suggesting a spatially organised immunosuppressive niche.
Mechanistically, tumour necrosis factor superfamily member
14 (TNFSF14)-tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily
member 14 (TNFRSF14)-mediated Treg-CAF interaction was
identified as a critical driver of immunotherapy resistance
in SLD-HCC. Blocking TNFRSF14 in an HCC model fed with a
high-fat diet resulted in reduced Tregs, increased active
CD8+ and memory CD4+ T cells, and a synergistic effect with
anti-programmed cell death protein 1 therapy to enhance
antitumour immunity and overcome immunotherapy resistance in
SLD-HCC.This study uncovers critical immune and metabolic
adaptations in SLD-HCC, identifying TNFSF14-TNFRSF14
signalling as a key driver of immunotherapy resistance.
Targeting this signalling axis enhances antitumour immunity
and improves immunotherapy efficacy, offering a promising
therapeutic strategy for SLD-HCC.},
keywords = {CELLULAR IMMUNITY (Other) / HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA
(Other) / IMMUNOREGULATION (Other) / IMMUNOTHERAPY (Other) /
LIVER IMMUNOLOGY (Other)},
cin = {D440},
ddc = {610},
cid = {I:(DE-He78)D440-20160331},
pnm = {314 - Immunologie und Krebs (POF4-314)},
pid = {G:(DE-HGF)POF4-314},
typ = {PUB:(DE-HGF)16},
pubmed = {pmid:40695620},
doi = {10.1136/gutjnl-2025-335084},
url = {https://inrepo02.dkfz.de/record/303093},
}