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). The gene discussed is PPIA; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.