IgA-expressing cells suppress anti-tumor immunity in NASH-driven HCC

A study published in Nature on Wednesday suggests fibrotic liver disease triggers local accumulation of IgA-expressing plasma cells, which suppress anti-tumor T cells and promote tumor formation. The findings also suggest the suppressive cells can be eliminated from the liver by PD-L1 blockade.

The study, led by researchers at University of California San Diego, showed that patients and mice with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accumulated IgA-positive cells in the liver. In the mouse model, the IgA-positive cells were shown to be plasma cells -- mature antibody-producing B cells -- that expressed the immunosuppressive regulators IL-10 and PD-L1...