Fig 2: Expression of PPP2CA in HCC tissues, showing primarily cytoplasmic localization.(A–B) A representative tissue slice classified as showing negative expression (0 points in overall score). Magnification, ×100 (A), ×200 (B). (C–D) A representative tissue slice classified as showing weakly positive expression (1–4 points in overall score). Magnification, ×100 (C), ×200 (D). (E–F) A representative tissue slice classified as showing moderately positive expression (5–8 points in overall score). Magnification, ×100 (E), ×200 (F). (G–H) A representative tissue slice classified as showing strongly positive expression (9–12 points in overall score). Magnification, ×100 (G), ×200 (H). HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma.

Fig 3: Summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curve assessing the ability of PPP2CA expression to diagnose HCC, based on data from GEO microarrays and the TCGA database.The y-axis represents specificity, and the x-axis represents sensitivity. HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; GEO, Gene Expression Omnibus; TCGA, The Cancer Genome Atlas.

Fig 4: The subgroup meta-analysis of PPP2CA expression levels between cancerous tissues and non-cancerous tissues in HCC.(A) Forest plot of the PPP2CA expression levels based on TCGA, GSE62232 and in-house RNA-Seq datasets. (B) Forest plot of the PPP2CA expression levels after eliminating HBV-related HCC considered to be sources of heterogeneity. HCC, hepatocellular carcinoma; TCGA, The Cancer Genome Atlas; HBV, hepatitis B virus.

Fig 5: The upregulation of PP2Aca in macrophages from mouse and human fibrotic kidneys.a, b Western blot assay (a) and graphic presentation (b) showing the abundance of PP2Ac, PP2Aca, PP2Acß, and methyl-PP2Ac (L309) in the kidneys after IRI. c, d Western blot assay (c) and graphic presentation (b) showing the abundance of PP2Ac, PP2Aca, PP2Acß, and PP2Ac (methyl L309) in the kidneys after UUO. e Real-time qRT-PCR analysis showing the mRNA abundance of PP2Aca in kidneys. *p < 0.05, n = 3. #p < 0.05, n = 3. Data are presented as means ± SEM. f Representative immune staining images showing the expression of PP2Ac in F4/80-positive macrophages within the fibrotic kidneys at day 14 or day 28 after UUO or IRI, respectively. White arrows indicate co-staining-positive cells. Scale bar, 5 µm. g Quantitative analysis for PP2Ac-staining-positive cells in mouse kidney tissues. n = 3. Data are presented as means ± SEM. h Quantitative analysis for F4/80-staining-positive macrophages in mouse kidney tissues. n = 3. Data are presented as means ± SEM. i Quantitative analysis for PP2Ac and F4/80 double-staining-positive cells in mice kidney tissues. n = 3. Data are presented as means ± SEM. j Western blot assay showing the induction of PP2Aca in macrophages sorted from UUO or IRI kidneys with CD115 microbeads. k Western blot assay showing PP2ACß and methyl-PP2Ac (L309) in macrophages sorted from spleen, UUO, or IRI kidneys with CD115 microbeads. Mouse kidney lysate was utilized as positive control. l Real-time qRT-PCR analysis showing the mRNA abundance of PP2Aca in macrophages sorted from spleen, UUO, or IRI with CD115 microbeads. *p < 0.05, n = 3. #p < 0.05, n = 3. Data are presented as means ± SEM. m Representative immune staining images showing the expression of PP2Ac in CD68-staining-positive macrophages within human fibrotic kidneys. White arrows indicate co-staining-positive cells. Scale bar, 5 µm. n Quantitative analysis for PP2Ac-staining-positive cells in human kidney tissues, n = 3. Data are presented as means ± SEM. o Quantitative analysis for CD68-staining-positive cells in human kidney tissues. n = 3. Data are presented as means ± SEM. p Quantitative analysis for PP2Ac and CD68 double-staining-positive cells in human kidney tissues. n = 3. Data are presented as means ± SEM.