Fig. 4

Acetoacetate is identified as the key secreted molecule from HCC cells in B3GALNT2-mediated macrophage recruitment. a, b Macrophage recruitment assessment in transwell assays using large-molecule fraction (> 3 kDa) of the culture medium from HCC cells with B3GALNT2 overexpression or knockdown. c, d Macrophage recruitment assessment in transwell assays using the small-molecule fraction (< 3 kDa) of the culture medium from HCC cells with B3GALNT2 overexpression or knockdown. e PCA analysis for the metabolite profiles of B3GALNT2-overexpressed 7402 cells and control cells determined by LC-MS. f KEGG pathway enrichment for the metabolites significantly changed by B3GALNT2. g The metabolite profile changed by B3GALNT2. h Relative levels of acetoacetate in 7402-B3GALNT2 cells and 7402-control cells determined by metabolomics analysis. i, j Macrophage recruitment assessment in transwell assays using 7402 cells with or without B3GALNT2 overexpression in addition with acetoacetate. *p < 0.05, ***p < 0.001, n.s. not significant