Decreased of BAFF-R expression and B cells maturation in patients with hepatitis B virus-related hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 1 Representative plot shows the gating strategy for identification of B cell subsets. (1) Firstly, lymphocyte population was initially determined from forward scatter and side scatter plot. (2) Positive for CD19 was selected from CD19 vs CD27 plot. (3) Naive B cells, IgD and class-switched memory B cells were then identified from IgD vs CD27 plot. And (4) Plasmablasts and transitional B cells were selected from CD38 vs CD27 and CD38 vs CD24, respectively. Moreover, B cell-activating factor receptors were gated on CD19 positive cells. FSC: Forward scatter; SSC: Side scatter; BAFF-R: B cell-activating factor receptors; BCMA: B-cell maturation antigen; TACI: Transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor.

Figure 2 The frequency of B cell-activating factor receptors expression was significantly lower in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma compared with the other groups. Representative fluorescence activated cell sorting and statistic plots of A: B cell-activating factor receptors; B: Transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor; C: B-cell maturation antigen. TACI: Transmembrane activator and cyclophilin ligand interactor; BCMA: B-cell maturation antigen; BAFF-R: B cell-activating factor receptors; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; HC: Healthy controls.

Figure 3 Class-switched and IgD memory B cells were significantly lower in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma compared with the non-hepatocellular carcinoma group. A: Gating strategy and relative of; B: IgD memory B cells; C: Class switched memory B cells; D: Naïve B cells in healthy controls, patients without hepatocellular carcinoma (Non-HCC) and patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; HC: Healthy controls.

Figure 4 Lower frequency of plasmablasts in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma compared with non-hepatocellular carcinoma. Representative and statistic plots of A: Plasmablasts; B: Transitional B cells in healthy controls, patients without hepatocellular carcinoma (Non-HCC) and patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma; HC: Healthy controls.

Figure 5 B cell-activating factor expression and clinical correlation in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. A: Hematocrit; B: White cell count; C: Serum albumin; D: Serum alpha-fetoprotein; E: Tumor size; F: Tumor staging. BAFF-R: B cell-activating factor receptors; AFP: Alpha-fetoprotein.