A recent study has already reported high galectin-9 expression on Kupffer cells in HCC islets, but not in the adjacent tissues.66 Observations of liver biopsies from patients with CHB also showed strong staining of galectin-9 in Kupffer cells, together with considerably elevated levels of galectin-9 in the circulation of patients with HBV-related liver inflammation.63 Combined with the blockade result mentioned before, galectin-9 was proved to contribute to the inhibition and deletion of T cells in CHB patients as they infiltrate the HBV-infected liver. Here, LGALS9 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.