Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 4, 2025

Examining the Role of Nasopharyngeal-associated Lymphoreticular Tissue NALT in Mouse Responses to Vaccines
Published on: August 1, 2012
The role of tertiary lymphoid structure and B cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Based on bioinformatics and
Chujun Chen1, Yan Zhang2, Xiaoting Wu3
1Key Specialty of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, PR China.
Objective:
Transcriptomic characteristics and prognosis of tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) and infiltrating B cells in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) remain unclear. Here, NPC transcriptomic data and clinical samples were used to investigate the role of infiltrating B cells and TLS in NPC.
Methods:
We investigated the gene expression and infiltrating immune cells of NPC patients and further investigated the clinical relevance of B cell and TLS signatures. Transcriptional features of infiltrating B cell subsets were revealed by single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis. Immunohistochemical (IHC) and HE staining were performed to validate the clinical relevance of infiltrating B cells and TLS in NPC samples.
Results:
27 differentially expressed immune-related genes (IRGs) associated with prognosis were identified, including B cell marker genes CD19 and CD79B. The higher B cells and TLS signature scores were associated with better outcomes and early pathological staging in 88 NPC patients. ScRNA-seq identified five distinct B cell subsets in NPC, including the BC-4 cluster associated with poor outcomes and the BC-0 cluster associated with better outcomes. EBV infection was positively associated with the formation of TLS. Furthermore, experimental results showed that the infiltration of B cells in NPC tissues was higher than that of normal tissues, and the density of TLS in an early stage of NPC was higher than that in advanced-stage TLS.
Conclusion:
Our findings demonstrate the functional importance of distinct B cell subsets in the prognosis of NPC. Additionally, we confirmed that B cells and TLS may serve as prognostic biomarkers of survival for NPC patients.
More Related Videos
07:29Intramucosal Inoculation of Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cells in Mice for Tumor Immune Profiling and Treatment Response Assessment
Published on: April 22, 2019
07:07Evaluation of T Follicular Helper Cells and Germinal Center Response During Influenza A Virus Infection in Mice
Published on: June 27, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Cells of the Adaptive Immune Response
B Cell Activation and Differentiation
When naive B cells encounter a specific antigen that can bind to the B cell receptor (BCR) on their surface, they undergo sensitization to respond to the antigen's presence. Sensitization begins with...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Special Features of Adaptive Immunity
The primary cell types involved in adaptive immunity are T cells and B cells. Each type has a unique role in defending the body against pathogens. T cells are responsible for cell-mediated immunity. They identify and eliminate infected cells directly,...
Cell-mediated Immune Responses
Secondary Lymphoid Organs
The spleen is a vital organ in the lymphatic system, nestled in the upper left side of the abdomen. It is composed of two primary regions: the red pulp and the white pulp, each having distinct functions. The red pulp performs a significant role in blood filtration. It efficiently purges the blood of old or damaged red blood cells and...