Fig. 2

Schematic view of the TLR4 signaling pathways between MSCs and HCC cells in inflammation microenvironment. This signaling pathway activated by viral proteins and inflammatory conditions can ultimately lead to the activation of the NF-κB transcription factor. This transcription factor after entering the nucleus, induced expression of the factors involved in proliferation, survival inflammation, and carcinogenesis. The TSG-6 factor produced by MSCs leads to inhibition of this pathway, but IL-1α/β is an activator for NF-κB inducing. MSCs prevent the effect of IL-1α/β by the production of soluble receptors