HCC-cell-derived exosomal SLC1A61-AS1 upregulated the lactate transporter SLC16A1 of macrophages and induced the intracellular influx of lactate to activate the ERK signaling pathway and promoted the activation of M2 macrophages, which in turn activated M2 macrophages secrete IL-6 and other cytokines act on adjacent HCC cells to promoted its proliferation and metastasis. Here, SLC16A1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.