Additionally, IL-17a (often referred to as IL-17, is a highly versatile cellular pro-inflammatory cytokine) reduces E-cadherin expression and promotes Vimentin and N-cadherin expression, inducing EMT via the AKT pathway, suggesting the possibility of CAFs involvement in EMT and invasive metastasis of HCC by regulating IL-17 and IL-1β through circUBAP2 [139]. Here, VIM is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.