Extracellular sulfatase 2 (SULF2) is a member of sulfatase family genes, when co-cultured with HSCs, SULF2 could be secreted by the HCC cells to induce the differentiation of HSCs into CAFs via the TGFβ1/SMAD3 signaling pathway [103]. Here, TGFB1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.