BAX and hepatocellular carcinoma: In support, we also found a higher apoptotic rate (indicated by increased expression of apoptotic genes, Bax and p53, decreased expression of the antiapoptotic gene, Bcl2, and weak immunostaining of the nuclear proliferative marker PCNA) and decreased angiogenetic activity (revealed by downregulation of VEGF gene) following injection of BM-MSC-derived exosomes in established HCC.