TGF‐β1 is a member of the cytokine family that has been implicated in cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis, and it is considered a crucial regulator of fibrosis.32 Functionally, TGF‐β1‐mediated regulation of autophagy has recently been reported in physiological and disease conditions.33 In the present study, we used GC cell/HPMC coculture systems and found that autophagy was activated in HPMCs by TGF‐β1 released from GC cells. The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is gastric cancer.