Metabolic reprogramming of immune cells: Shaping the tumor microenvironment in hepatocellular carcinoma

Cancer Med. 2021 Sep;10(18):6374-6383. doi: 10.1002/cam4.4177. Epub 2021 Aug 13.

Abstract

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a typical inflammation-induced cancer and displays a complex interaction between the tumor microenvironment and tumor development. Immune cells in the HCC microenvironment play both pro- and anti-tumoral roles in HCC progression. An increasing number of findings indicate that metabolic reprogramming is essential for immune cell differentiation and function. In this review, we discuss the metabolic changes of different immune cells and correlate these findings to HCC progression.

Keywords: hepatocellular carcinoma; immune cells; metabolic reprogramming; tumor immunology; tumor microenvironment.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adaptive Immunity
  • Carcinogenesis / immunology
  • Carcinogenesis / pathology
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / immunology*
  • Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / pathology
  • Disease Progression
  • Humans
  • Killer Cells, Natural / immunology
  • Killer Cells, Natural / metabolism
  • Liver / immunology
  • Liver / pathology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / immunology*
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • Neutrophils / immunology
  • Neutrophils / metabolism
  • Tumor Microenvironment / immunology*
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages / immunology
  • Tumor-Associated Macrophages / metabolism