BSG and hepatocellular carcinoma: There was increased expression of CD147 in the membranes of HCC cells, and also in the LX-2 cells following co-culture with the HCC cells, with a change in shape of the LX-2 to that of fibroblasts, suggesting that HCC cells triggered the epithelial-mesenchymal transformation of the HSCs via the secretion of CD147, which led to further activation of LX-2 cells and the secretion of CD147.