Fig. 6: HCC CAFs promote and LXRα activation inhibits 3D hepatosphere formation.
From: LXRα limits TGFβ-dependent hepatocellular carcinoma associated fibroblast differentiation

AKH12 fibroblasts (14%) and SNU449 or Hep3b hepatoma cells (86%) were co-cultured in hanging drops to generate heterotypic 3D cell populations. a–c Phase contrast microscopy of individual hepatospheres (left panels, magnification bar, 10 µm). Quantification of hepatosphere cultures (right panels), plotted as mean ± SD values. a Plain co-culture and hepatosphere analysis; experiments were performed in biological quadruplicates (nb = 4). b Hepatosphere analysis after stimulation of the AKH12 fibroblasts with T0901317 (5 µM, T09); experiments were performed in biological triplicates (nb = 3). c Hepatosphere analysis after treatment of the co-culture with the TGFβ type I receptor kinase inhibitor LY2157299 (L2, 2 µM); experiments were performed in biological quadruplicates (nb = 4)