In addition, upregulated circulating and intra-hepatic IL-34 in HBV-HCC from our current study is supported by the others, showing that the circulating IL-34 markedly increased in HBV-HCC patients, compared to those in CHB and HBV-negative HCC patients [31], and the HBx gene of HBV upregulates IL-34 expression in hepatoma [32]. This evidence concerns the gene IL34 and hepatocellular carcinoma.