TGFB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Human BAMBI can also promote Wnt signaling by enhancing its interaction with the receptor Frizzled-5.17 Its elevated expression has been suggested to attenuate TGF-β-mediated growth arrest in colorectal and HCC cells16 as well as induce the growth and invasion of human gastric carcinoma cells.18 BAMBI expression is also associated with Toll-like receptor 4- and lipopolysaccharide-mediated hepatic fibrosis.19 Therefore, we first assessed the relationship between ctHBx or HBx and BAMBI/β-catenin signaling.