CD68 and hepatocellular carcinoma: As shown in Fig. 2b, most CD68+ Mφs are CD204+ (92.8 ± 1.0%) and CD169+ (88.4 ± 3.2%) cells in the NT area of HCC; however, the phenotype changed in the IT area, as shown by a significant decrease in the percentage of CD169+ Mφs (P = 0.004; Fig. 2b).