In addition, in line with our findings, estrogen restricts TLR4 and TNF-α, but not TLR3 and NLRP3 responses, contributing to a proinflammatory hepatic microenvironment in males, which imparts increased risk to men with chronic viral hepatitis to progress to cirrhosis or HCC 26. The gene discussed is NLRP3; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.