It has been previously reported that stromal cells uptake 14-3-3-sigma protein through an aminopeptidase N-dependent mechanism30, however, our results showed that 14-3-3ζ expression levels were increased in naive T cells co-cultured with 14-3-3ζ-overexpressing HCC cells or their visible cell culture components rather than with invisible cell culture components, suggesting that 14-3-3ζ in  TILs is influenced by 14-3-3ζ in HCC cells, at least partially mediated by visible cell culture components. The gene discussed is ANPEP; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.