Notably, HBV-miR-2 activated genes including inflammatory genes like P2RX7 and PYCARD [70, 71], fibrosis-induced genes like ANXA2 and MIF [72, 73] oncogenic genes like FOS and JUN [74, 75], which were further verified via RT-qPCR (Fig. S4E) and highly expressed in the particular stages of CHB, liver cirrhosis and HCC. Here, MIF is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.