Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
Isolation and Characterization of a Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Subpopulation Having Stem Cell Characteristics
Published on: May 11, 2016
Identification of marginal zone B cells in head and neck cancer with immunomodulatory characteristics
Jiantong Bao1, Jochen Hess2, Annika C Betzler3
1Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Head & Neck Cancer Center of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany; School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.
Introduction:
Recently we observed high numbers of marginal zone B cells (MZBs) within murine head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) with immunosuppressive potential. To date, MZBs have not been linked to tumor development or tumor prevention.
Objectives:
Based on our previous findings the present study aimed to validate the presence of MZB in HNSCC and to investigate their possible implications in tumorigenesis and prognosis.
Methods:
Flow cytometry was used to uncover MZB within tumors and blood of HNSCC patients. A single-cell RNA sequencing cohort of 118 HNSCC patients across different disease stages and 6 healthy donors (HDs) was compiled. Comparative transcriptomic profiling of B lymphocytes between HNSCC and HDs were performed. Downstream analysis, such as pathway enrichment, cell-cell communication, pseudotime trajectory inference, survival correlation, and spatial transcriptomics were applied.
Results:
Two MZB subsets were revealed in tissues and blood of HNSCC patients and HDs. The tumor-associated MZBs were featured with hypoxia stress and viral-related hallmark genes. MZB-2, characterized by elevated expression of activation markers and immune-regulatory genes, displayed strong interactions with CD4+ T cells and antigen-presenting cells. These interactions were supported by costimulatory signals in HDs but were absent in HNSCC patients. Co-localization of MZB-2, germinal center B cell (GCB), and CD4+ follicular helper T cell (Tfh) was detected in HNSCC, suggesting the presence of an intratumoral MZB-Tfh-GCB axis. Clinically, MZB-2 abundance was associated with favorable prognosis in early-stage HNSCC, but not in advanced disease. Immunosuppressive gene signatures were not exclusive to MZBs, indicating that they do not represent a purely regulatory B cell phenotype.
Conclusion:
Our findings demonstrate an immunomodulatory role of MZBs in tumor immunity, balancing antigen presentation, cytokine signaling, and immune suppression. The association of MZB-2 with improved prognosis in early-stage HNSCC highlights its potential as a beneficial regulator of antitumor immunity during early tumor progression.
More Related Videos
09:04Analysis of Human T Cell Activity in an Allogeneic Co-Culture Setting of Pre-Treated Tumor Cells
Published on: March 7, 2025
07:43Four-color Fluorescence Immunohistochemistry of T-cell Subpopulations in Archival Formalin-fixed, Paraffin-embedded Human Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Samples
Published on: July 29, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:22T Cell Activation and Clonal Selection
Naive T cells that have not yet encountered an antigen express two primary CD...
01:24B 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...