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

Figure 4 Transforming growth factor-β can promote the proliferation of tumor cells and increase the level of interleukin-6 in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines production. A: The cell numbers of the three HCC cell lines after treatment with 100 ng/mL rhTGF-β for 48 h; B: The three HCC culture supernatants were analyzed for protein levels of IL-6 after treatment with rhTGF-β for 48 h using ELISA; C: The three HCC cell lines were treated with or without rhIL-6 for 48 h, and cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^cP < 0.001. TGF-β: Transforming growth factor-β; Treg: Regulatory cells; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.