Our results reveal an accumulation of Macrophage-CD9/IL18, CD4 T cell-TNFAIP3, CD8 T cell-TNF (effector CD8 T cells), and CD8 T cell-CD53 and a loss of Treg cells from HBV infection to cirrhosis, as well as an accumulation of Macrophage-CD9/IFI6, NK Cell-GNLY, Treg cell, and CD8 T cell-LAG3 (exhausted CD8 T cell) and a loss of CD8 T cell-TNF (effector CD8 T cells) from HBV cirrhosis to HCC (Figure 7). Here, IL18 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.