SFRP1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: To further define the roles of sFRP1 in the NE-stimulated HSC CM promotion of malignant phenotypes of HCC cells, we transfected LX-2 cells with a sFRP1-shRNA lentivirus (LX-2shRNA sFRP1) or a scramble-shRNA lentivirus (negative control, LX-2shRNA NC).