Identification of new inhibitory molecules in T lymphocytes upon HCC development for new therapeutic targets

Aim of the present study is the identification of new inhibitory targets on T lymphocytes which appear upon hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development and lead to a dysfunction of T cells by HCC microenvironment. Hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by intrahepatic administration of two oncogenes (c-Myc and NrasG12V, abbreviation in the list below CN). Two control groups were injected with a single oncogene each (control group C and control group N), that did not result in cancer development. CD4 and CD8 cells were isolated from 6 tumor-bearing (TB) mice and from two groups (each with 6 mice) of healthy tumor-free (TF) control mice. In particular, CD4 and CD8 T cells were isolated from liver, liver-draining lymph nodes (relLN), not liver-draining lymph nodes (irrLN) and spleen. Microarray was performed on CD4 and CD8 T cells cells. In total, 3 groups by first microarray replicate were created with 4 organs each and in total 24 samples (CD4 and CD8). For the second replicate new 6 tumor-bearing and 6+6 tumor-free animals were used. In total, two replicates of microarray have been performed and in total 48 samples were analysed.