ACTA1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: As previous studies had reported that HCC progression is promoted by activated hepatic stellate cell (HSC)-mediated microvessel formation, and the expression of Ang-1 was positively correlated with the MVD and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression, the authors suggested that activated HSCs mediate angiogenesis through the upregulation of Ang-1 expression and, thereby, promote HCC growth and metastasis [44].