Until now, collective evidence has demonstrated that IL‐34 is involved in the development of viral infection, autoimmune diseases and cancers.12, 13 Importantly, recent studies show that IL‐34 is involved in the HBV infection and associated with liver fibrosis.14, 15 Besides, the report from Zhou S et al shows that increased IL‐34 is related to the poor survival and tumour recurrence in HCC patients, and modulates the invasion and metastasis of HCC cells via macrophages.16 However, whether IL‐34 contributes to the development of HBV‐infected HCC is still unclear. The gene discussed is IL34; the disease is autoimmune disease.