Evidence mapPaperPMID 41116010Full record

ArticleCommunications biology2025

Dual regulatory role of natural killer T cells during development of hepatocellular carcinoma.

Maria Papanastasatou, Marianthi Gioulbasani, Evangelia Nakou, Alexandros Galaras, Teresa Rubio-Tomás, Iannis Talianidis, Aristides G Eliopoulos, Pantelis Hatzis, Mihalis Verykokakis

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Communications biology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Advances in Lipid Metabolism Reprogramming in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.Journal of clinical and translational hepatology · 2026
    Review
  2. Review
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Maria PapanastasatouInstitute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, BSRC Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece.
Marianthi GioulbasaniInstitute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, BSRC Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece.
Evangelia NakouInstitute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, BSRC Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece.
Alexandros GalarasInstitute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, BSRC Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece.
Teresa Rubio-TomásInstitute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, BSRC Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece.
Iannis TalianidisInstitute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, BSRC Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1209-3609
Aristides G EliopoulosDepartment of Biology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6403-6761
Pantelis HatzisInstitute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, BSRC Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5002-7728
Mihalis VerykokakisInstitute for Fundamental Biomedical Research, BSRC Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece. verykokakis@fleming.gr.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2780-5007

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Natural killer T (NKT) cells play a complex role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) progression. Using a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced HCC mouse model, we observed a significant reduction in NKT cells within malignant liver tissue due to apoptosis, with the remaining cells exhibiting impaired cytokine production and cytotoxic potential. CD1d-deficient mice, which lack NKT cells, showed delayed tumor initiation and fewer tumors, yet the tumors that did form were larger and exhibited enhanced proliferation and immunosuppression. Notably, adoptive transfer of healthy NKT cells after tumor establishment reduced tumor burden, suggesting a protective role in later disease stages. These findings indicate that NKT cells contribute to early tumor development but may help control tumor progression in later stages. Their functional impairment in HCC underscores the need for strategies to restore their anti-tumor activity. Understanding the dual role of NKT cells in liver carcinogenesis may pave the way for novel immunotherapeutic approaches to improve HCC treatment and patient outcomes.

Indexed as

Carcinoma, HepatocellularLiver NeoplasmsNatural Killer T-CellsAnimalsAntigens, CD1dApoptosisDiethylnitrosamineMaleMiceMice, Inbred C57BLMice, KnockoutAntigens, CD1dDiethylnitrosamine

Identifiers

PMID41116010
PMCPMC12537958

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.