We found that HSF2 expression positively correlated with the expression of Treg cell markers (FOXP3, CCR8, STAT5B and TGFB1), resting Treg cell markers (LAYN and FOXP3) and effective Treg cell markers (IL2RA, FOXP3, CTLA-4, CCR8 and TNFRSF9) in HCC, suggesting that HSF2 may have the potential to activate Treg cells (Table 3). Here, CTLA4 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.