PDK1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Further, exosomal miR-125b also activates human fibroblasts by suppressing the expression of TP53INP1 and TP53. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), exosomal miR-21 secreted from HCC cells targets PTEN directly, leading to the activation of PDK1/AKT signaling in HSCs and the transformation of these cells into CAFs [96].