Consistently, increased mRNA expression of IL‐6, IL‐1β and TNF‐α was induced by ethanol in vivo and in vitro and HMGB1 siRNA inhibited the elevated mRNA expression of IL‐6, IL‐1β and TNF‐α in alcohol‐treated AML‐12 cells. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is acute myeloid leukemia.