Figure 7

Proposed Model of Action of TGF-β during HCC Progression.
Schematic representation of direct (solid line) and indirect (dotted line) action of TGF-β in HCC. TGF-β directly induces cell invasiveness and survival of HCC cells. In addition, TGF-β activates HSCs and increases secretion of TIMP-1 and TGF-β from HSCs. Secreted TIMP-1 leads to increase HCC cells proliferation, invasiveness and survival through binding of TIMP-1 to the TIMP-1 receptor, CD63 expressed on HCC cells.