Upon binding with LPS, TLR4 activates the NF‐κB and JNK/MAPK signaling pathways, inducing the release of pro‐inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) and tumor necrosis factor‐α (TNF‐α), which promote hepatocyte proliferation, survival, and epithelial‐mesenchymal transition (EMT), thereby enhancing the invasiveness and metastatic potential of HCC [29, 30]. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is hepatocellular carcinoma.