Figure 5.

IL-6 secretion by YAP in HCC cells accounted for ligustilide-mediated macrophage recruitment and M2 polarization. (a and b) HCC cells were transfected with rYAP plasmids, prior to exposure to ligustilide. Then, the mRNA levels (a) and the contents of IL-6 in supernatants (b) were determined. (c and d) HCC cells stimulated with ligustilide, anti-IL-6 antibody, or exogenous IL-6 were co-cultured with macrophages. Then, macrophage migration (c) and % of CD14⁺CD206⁺ cells (d) were analyzed. (e and f) The subsequent effects on the transcripts of CD163, CD206, Arg1, CCL22 (e), and production of IL-10 and TGF-β (f) were further evaluated. *P < 0.05 vs. control group. ^§P < 0.05 vs. CC-treated group. ^&P < 0.05 vs. CC and LIG group.