Interestingly, in our pilot test, recombinant HMGB1 protein could induce Gla-1 release from BMDMs via TLR2 (Supplementary Figure 3), suggesting that HMGB1 is a potential HCC-derived factor to stimulate Gal-1 secretion from TAMs. This evidence concerns the gene TLR2 and hepatocellular carcinoma.