Figure 6: LECT2 expression is inversely correlated with angiogenesis in HCC patients.

(a–e) Analysis of the correlation between LECT2 and angiogenic marker (CD34) expression in HCC patients using data from the Gene Expression Omnibus database (GSE45436). (A left) Comparison of the LECT2 gene expression levels in normal liver tissue and HCC samples. (A right) Comparison of the CD34 gene expression levels in normal liver tissue and HCC samples. (b) Gene expression scatter diagrams for LECT2 versus CD34. The blue dots represent the expression levels in individual samples in the cohort, and a regression line is shown. (c) Correlation between CD34 and LECT2 expression with high VEGF₁₆₅ gene expression. (d) Correlation between LECT2 protein expression and MVD in HCC patients. The LECT2 protein expression levels in 73 HCC samples were determined via immunoblotting. MVD was analyzed by staining tissue sections immunohistochemically and then evaluating three highly vascularized areas per tumor at high magnification (200×). The total number of microvessels was determined for each area, and the average number was recorded for each tumor. (e) Protein expression scatter diagrams for LECT2 versus MVD from HCC patients.