Molecular mechanisms of tumor-associated macrophages in hepatocellular carcinoma development and therapy

Figure 1 Tumor-associated macrophages contribute to hepatocellular carcinoma development. Tumor-associated macrophages contribute to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment by activating or inducing angiogenesis, fibrosis, tumor cell metastasis, and T cell exhaustion. TAMs: Tumor-associated macrophages; VEGF: Vascular endothelial growth factor; MMPs: Matrix metalloproteinases; EGF: Endothelial growth factor; TGF: Transforming growth factor; TNF: Tumor necrosis factor; PDGF: Platelet-derived growth factor; G-CSF: Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; GM-CSF: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; IL: Interleukin; HCC: Hepatocellular carcinoma.