Fig. 4 |. Interactions between CAFs and other cell types in the tumour microenvironment.

Schematic illustration of the potential regulatory effects of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) on other cell populations (including cancer cells, lymphocytes, myeloid cells and endothelial cells) and the microbiota within the tumour microenvironment. BMP, bone morphogenetic protein; CCL, CC motif chemokine; CTGF, connective tissue growth factor; CXCL, CXC motif chemokine; ECM, extracellular matrix; EGF, epidermal growth factor; FGF, fibroblast growth factor; HGF, hepatocyte growth factor; IGF, insulin-like growth factor; LOX, lysyl oxidase; M-CSF, macrophage colony-stimulating factor; MMP, matrix metalloproteinase; PDGF, platelet-derived growth factor; PGE₂, prostaglandin E₂; TGFβ, transforming growth factor-β ; TIMPs, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases; VEGF, vascular endothelial growth factor.