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Fig. 2 | Molecular Cancer

Fig. 2

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

Fig. 2

Chemotaxis mechanisms that mediate MSC migration to the liver fibrosis and HCC microenvironment. MSCs can migrate to the liver fibrosis and HCC microenvironment, and this capacity has made MSCs ideal carriers for targeted therapies. MSCs migration to the liver fibrosis microenvironment can be mediated by the chemokine SDF-1α/CXCR4 and CCL25/CCR9 axes and the growth factor HGF via activation of c-MET. In addition to the chemokines and inflammatory growth factors known to exert potent cellular chemotactic effects, the sphingolipid metabolite S1P is one of the most important candidates for the induction of MSC mobilization via SIP3R. CB1 can also mediate homing of MSCs triggered by chronic liver injury. MSCs can be recruited into the HCC microenvironment by AMF and several chemokines, including IL-8, CCL2, CXCL1/2/3, CCL20 and CCL15/CCR, and SDF-1/CXCR4. TGF-β/TGF-βR are also involved in this process. Thyroid hormones can increase hMSC migration to HCC stroma via integrin αvβ3

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Molecular Cancer

ISSN: 1476-4598