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Fig. 1 | Molecular Cancer

Fig. 1

From: Multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells play critical roles in hepatocellular carcinoma initiation, progression and therapy

Fig. 1

Complex interactions between HCC cells and stromal cells influence HCC progression. The main types of stromal cells in the HCC microenvironment are fibrogenesis cells (HSCs, fibroblasts), vascular system cells (ECs), immune cells (CD8+ T cells, Tregs, macrophages) and bone marrow-derived cells (MDSCs). HCC cells can “educate” these cells by different mechanisms. They can activate HSCs through secreting SHH and creating an acidic HCC microenvironment, and the latter can promote HCC drug resistance and metastasis by HGF, OPN, laminin-5 and laminin-332. HCC cells activate the conversion of liver and lung fibroblasts to CAFs by secreting TIMP-1 and exosomal miR-1247-3p, respectively, thus CAFs promote HCC growth through the IL-6/STAT3 pathway and secrete CCL2, CCL5, CCL7, CXCL6, TGF-β and SDF1 to facilitate HCC metastasis and vasculogenic mimicry. Hepatoma cells recruit MDSCs, Tregs and macrophages by secreting CCL5, CCL26, HIF-1, CCL28, CCL20, IL-6 and IL-8 and inhibit CD8+ T cells through the upregulated expression of amphiregulin, B7-H3 and PD-L1 to inhibit antitumor immunity. They can also promote EC proliferation to enhance angiogenesis

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