WNK2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: The expression of estrogen receptor β (ERβ) and NLRP3 were reported to be significantly downregulated in liver tissues of patients with HCC, and their expression levels were positively correlated; estrogen can inhibit HCC cell proliferation and metastasis by activating NLRP3 through the ERβ/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway (80, 81).