We found that the levels of CD3+, CD4+, CD19+ T cells and NK cells in peripheral blood samples all tended to be reduced in high-risk HCC patients (the case group), whereas the level of CD8+ cells was greater in the case group than in the control group, suggesting that HBV infection alters the proportions of the peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets. This evidence concerns the gene CD4 and hepatocellular carcinoma.