CD4 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Next, we assayed the expression levels of 14-3-3ζ in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells separated from TILs or PBMC of HCC patients, respectively, the results of which showed that 14-3-3ζ protein and mRNA levels increased significantly in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells isolated from TILs compared to those from PBMC (Fig. 1e–h).