Figure 2.
Characterization of isolated primary cells by genetic markers. HCC-PHHs (N = 8) and PHCs (N = 6) were analyzed after cell isolation using RT-qPCR. Relative mRNA expression levels of (A) fibroblast markers (COL1A2, TWIST2, FGF7) and (B) tumor markers (GPC3, SPINK1, SPP1, KPNA2) were determined. Fi301 (N = 3) and HepG2/Huh7 (N = 6) cells were used as positive controls. Values are means + SD, n = 3, two-way ANOVA and post hoc Šidák correction or Tukey’s test, statistical analyses were conducted on ΔCT values, * p ≤ 0.05, ** p ≤ 0.01, *** p ≤ 0.001, **** p < 0.0001. Abbreviations: PHC, primary human hepatoma cell; HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; PHH, primary human hepatocyte; COL1A2, collagen type I alpha 2 chain; TWIST2, twist family BHLH transcription factor 2; FGF7, fibroblast growth factor 7; GPC3, glypican-3; SPINK1, serine protease inhibitor Kazal type 1; SPP1, secreted phosphoprotein-1; KPNA2, karyopherin subunit alpha 2.