Table 1 Properties of tumor microenvironment cells in hepatocellular carcinoma

TAMs

OPN, C1QA, THBS1, APOE, SLC40A1, GPNMB

Related with reduced CD8 + T cell infiltration in TME and poor prognosis.

[5, 10]

TANs

MMP8, APOA2, CD74, IFIT1, SPP1, CCL4

Inhibited the cytotoxicity of CD8 + T cells by elevating PD-L1 expression.

[32]

cDCs

CLEC9A, XCR1, CADM1(cDC1);

CD1C, FCER1A, CLEC10A (cDC2)

Primarily responsible for antigen presentation.

[10]

pDCs

BDCA2, ILT7

Associated with infiltration of Tregs and poor prognosis of HCCs.

[38]

Migratory DCs

LAMP3, CD80, CD83, CCR7, CCL19, CCL21

Migratory DCs exhibited migratory capacity and a strong correlation with TEX.

[10]

NK cells

CD56, CD16

The higher number of NK cells correlated with a positive prognosis in HCC.

[50]

Helper ILCs

CD127

Functional heterogeneity.

[51]

Activated CD8 + T cells

CD8, GZMB

Associated with a favorable prognosis in HCC.

[66]

TEX

CD8, PD-1, TIM-3

Enrichment of TEX was linked to poor PFS and OS.

[5, 64]

TRM

CD69, CD103

Associated with a better prognosis and response to immunotherapy.

[64]

Tregs

CD4, FOXP3, CTLA-4

Tregs mediate T cell exhaustion and are associated with poor prognosis.

[5, 66]

Th

IFN-γ, IL-2 (Th1); IL-4, IL-5 (Th2); IL-17 (Th17)

Different Th subtypes exert positive or negative effects on the immune response.

[75]

B cells

CD19, CD20

Main constituent of TLS which correlates with a favorable prognosis.

[84]

CAFs

α-SMA, COL1A2, COL1A1

Mediated immune evasion by direct interactions, secretion of cytokines, and ECM.

[97]

ECs

PLPP3, IGFBP3, PLVAP

Interacted with TAMs and CAFs to attenuate the response of immunotherapy.

[52]