Fig. 3: Differential analysis of secreted proteins in CAFs and PTFs.

A The chemokine expression of the CAF-CM and PTF-CM was examined by the cytokine array. The expression of CCL5, CCL7, CCL8, CCL11 and CCL20 was significantly increased (highlighted with a circle). B The expression of CCL5 was measured in the CM of CAFs and PTFs from three HCC patients by ELISA. Mean ± SD, **p < 0.01, ***p < 0.001, compared with the PTF group. C Pearson correlation analysis showed that CCL5 was positively correlated with the expression of ACTA2 in 63 liver cancer samples (r = 0.5255, p < 0.0001). D The CCL5 serum expression level of HCC patients, liver cirrhosis patients and healthy person was detected by ELISA. N = 3 per group. Mean ± SD, **p < 0.01, compared with the healthy person group; ##p < 0.01, compared with the LC group.