Furthermore, IL-34 elevated by HBx enhances the proliferation and migration of HCC cells via colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1-R) and CD138, and IL-34 contributes to the activation of ERK and STAT3 pathways as well as the up-regulation of Bcl-xl and c-Myc mediated by HBx (68). Here, CSF1R is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.