TLR4 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In TLR4 mutant HCC mice models, apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1)/p38 MAPK/NF-κB and IRF3/IFN pathways were inhibited, and DNA repair protein Ku70 and inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12, TNF-α, and IFN-γ were reduced due to the damaged immune system.