MMP1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: After 48 h, the expression of MMP-1 in the HCC, MRC-5, and macrophage co-culture group (1337.00 ± 42.43) was higher than in the HCC and MRC-5 co-culture group (1166.25 ± 56.21), which was also higher than the MRC-5 mono-culture group (991.50 ± 19.09) and was significantly higher than the HCC (284.00 ± 18.38) and macrophage (98.50 ± 7.12) mono-culture groups.