In addition, 13 upregulated proteins, LGALS3, CREG1, S100A4, IGLV1-51, PPIA, LGALS1, RNASE4, IL18, GZMK, TTR, PLTP, B2M and IFI30, were annotated as secreted proteins, which implies these may be candidates for early biomarkers for fibrosis or HCC diagnosis (Fig. 5f). Here, LGALS3 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.