TLR4 expression in HCC tissues (77.8% positive rate) was significantly higher than that in adjacent noncancerous tissues (20%), whereas genetic TLR4 inactivation, gut sterilization or germ-free status could decrease HCC development by approximately 80% (Dapito et al., 2012; Kang et al., 2018). This evidence concerns the gene TLR4 and hepatocellular carcinoma.