Transforming growth factor-β and peripheral regulatory cells are negatively correlated with the overall survival of hepatocellular carcinoma

Figure 2 Increase of transforming growth factor-β+ regulatory cells in the serum of hepatocellular carcinoma patients. A: Representative plots for identification of the TGF-β+ Treg cells producing cells in PBMC; B: Analysis of the frequency of TGF-β+ Treg cell from the PBMCs of healthy donors in comparison to HCC patients; C: Analysis of the frequency of TGF-β+ Treg cell from the PBMCs of healthy donors in comparison to HCC patients with tumors at different stages. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. TGF-β: Transforming growth factor-β; Treg: Regulatory cells; PBMC: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.