Abstract
Tumor immune microenvironment is strongly associated with the malignancy behavior of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, the immune function and regulatory mechanisms of B cells in HCC remain unclear. The expression differences between B cell high- and low-infiltration HCC samples are explored to identify the key regulator. Pre-mRNA processing factor 19 (PRP19) expression is increased in B cell low-infiltrated tissues and negatively correlated with the B cell marker, CD20. Inhibition of PRP19 expression promoted B cell infiltration in tumor tissue and impeded HCC growth. Mechanically, the co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) assay revealed that PRP19 interacts with DEAD-box helicase 5 (DDX5), leading to ubiquitination and degradation of the DDX5 protein. The attenuated DDX5 impairs CXCL12 mRNA stability to suppress B cell recruitment and plasma cell differentiation via CXCL12/CXCR4 axis. Moreover, the adoptive transfer of CXCR4+ B cells combined with CXCL12 treatment in mice models effectively inhibits HCC development by reshaping the immune response. The expression of PRP19, DDX5, and infiltrating B cells are recognized as clinical prognosis indicators for HCC patients. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the clinical benefits of HCC immunotherapy by targeting PRP19 and modulating tumor-infiltrating B cell immune function.