Immune Cell Plasticity and Dysfunction in Hepatocellular Carcinoma and Viral Hepatitis

Dear Colleagues,

Chronic viral hepatitis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) exemplify the intricate interplay of persistent infection, chronic inflammation, and immune dysregulation. Here, immune cell plasticity emerges as a central driver, orchestrating antiviral responses while fueling progression to fibrosis, cirrhosis, and oncogenesis. Prolonged antigen exposure, coupled with the immunosuppressive hepatic niche, reshapes key immune populations, including T cells, NK cells, myeloid-derived suppressors, and liver-resident macrophages, via exhaustion, metabolic rewiring, and epigenetic reprogramming.

These adaptations support viral persistence and defective antitumor surveillance, enabling HCC to evade immunity and resist therapies. Unraveling the molecular and cellular basis of this plasticity is crucial for pinpointing prognostic biomarkers and novel targets

This Special Issue of Cells invites original research and reviews elucidating immune cell plasticity and dysfunction in viral hepatitis and HCC. We seek contributions exploring mechanistic insights, from single-cell analyses to in vivo models, and their translational potential for precision immunotherapies, like checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, and metabolic modulators, to restore immune fitness and combat liver disease.

Dr. Carolina Boni
Guest Editor

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