Abstract: As a series of multifunctional cells, recent studies indicate that most of the CD4⁺ T lymphocyte subsets involve in the tumor angiogenesis and invasion, the apoptosis of tumor cells, and the expression of acute phase proteins and cancer-promoting genes by activating or inhibiting the innate immune cells, the adaptive immune cells and non-immune cells, thus function as tumor promoters or inhibitors in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Key words: Carcinoma, hepatocellular, Immunity, CD4⁺ T lymphocytes