BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Chronic HBV infection is the leading cause of HCC and a serious health problem in China, East Asia, and North African countries. Effective treatment of HBV-related HCC is currently unavailable. This study evaluated the therapeutic potential of T-cell immunoreceptor with Ig and ITIM domains (TIGIT) blockade in HBV-related HCC.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

A mouse model of spontaneous HBV-related HCC was generated by replacing wild-type hepatocytes with HBsAg + hepatocytes (namely HBs-HepR mice). The tumors in HBs-HepR mice were inflammation-associated HCC, similar to HBV-related HCC in patients, which was distinguished from other HCC mouse models, such as diethylnitrosamine-induced HCC, TGF-β-activated kinase 1 knockout-induced HCC, HCC in a stelic animal model, or NASH-induced HCC. HCC in HBs-HepR mice was characterized by an increased number of CD8 + T cells, whereas the production of IL-2, TNF-α, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) by intrahepatic CD8 + T cells was decreased. Increased expression of TIGIT on CD8 + T cells was responsible for functional exhaustion. The therapeutic effect of TIGIT blockade was investigated at the early and middle stages of HCC progression in HBs-HepR mice. TIGIT blockade reinvigorated intrahepatic CD8 + T cells with increased TNF-α and IFN-γ production and an increased number of CD8 + T cells in tumors, thereby slowing the development of HCC in HBs-HepR mice. Blocking PD-L1 did not show direct therapeutic effects or synergize with TIGIT blockade.

CONCLUSIONS

Blockade of TIGIT alone enhanced the antitumor activity of CD8 + T cells during the progression of HBV-related HCC in a spontaneous HCC mouse model.