HMGB1 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Consistent with the in vivo data, further study revealed that EGCG significantly downregulated the secretion of HMGB1 (Figures 3K, L), while having no significant effect on its intracellular expression (Figure 3K) in HBV-replicating hepatoma cells (HepAD38 cells); further, EGCG was revealed to efficiently downregulate the cytoplasmic HMGB1 in HepAD38 cells (Figure 3M).