Hence, it is extrapolated that 1) HBV drives infected hepatocytes to produce more inflammatory cytokines, especially IL-23, then 2) IL-23 engages in IL-23R to turn down the expression of HNF4α, and finally 3) inhibition of HNF4α induces progression of hepatocellular carcinoma by increasing ratio of stem/progenitor cells, promoting the proliferation and colony formation of hepatoma cells in vitro, and preventing apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of hepatoma cells. Here, HNF4A is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.