Therefore, the same gene in different cells appears to bias certain function toward an alternatively activated phenotype, suggesting the mechanistic complexity in signal integration of functional genes in various cells. A detailed understanding needs to be investigated. In this study, we only studied some representative inflammatory mediators and the blood sample size was not large. Additionally, response to the stimulation of activated HSCs, the roles of memory and naïve CD4+ T cells in expansion of IL-17+ cells should be different. Various synergistic effects from other T cells

or secretions in PBMC may participate in this process. We believe there are more linkages between activated HSCs, IL-17 and their receptors than what involved in this study. Therefore, extensive studies are needed in the future. Conclusions In conclusion, we have shown that the high expression of IL-17 and IL-17RE in HCC were associated with worse BMN 673 datasheet clinical outcome after resection. The protumor power of IL-17 producing CD4+ T cells was probably involved in the mechanisms of inflammatory response interacting with different types of inflammatory/immune cells in HCC. In this regard, IL-17 and IL-17RE,

acting as tumor promoters, may provide useful predictors for triaging at-risk patients with recurrence and metastasis of HCC following resection and Trametinib cost also possible therapeutic targets against this disease. Acknowledgements This work was supported by the National Key Sci-Tech Special Project of China (Nos. 2012ZX10002010-001-002), National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81071707 and 81071995; key program No. 81030038), the Open Project of the State Key Laboratory of Oncogene and Related Gene (No.90-09-03), Doctoral Fund of the Ministry of Education of China (No. 200802460019). Electronic supplementary material Additional file 1: Figure S1: Distribution of all investigated cytokines positive cells by immunocytochemistry analysis. Consecutive tissue sections of case 1 (intratumoral tissues: a, c, e, g, i and k) and case 57 (peritumoral tissues: b, d, f, h, j and l) using immunocytochemistry methods

showed different distribution patterns of IL-RA (a and b), IL-17RB (c and d), IL-17RC (e and f), IL-17RD (g and h), IL-17RE (i and AMP deaminase j) and IL-17 (k and l), respectively (x 200). (TIFF 4 MB) Additional file 2: Figure S2: The representative flow cytometry data from 10 haemangioma patients. (TIFF 2 MB) References 1. Farazi PA, DePinho RA: Hepatocellular carcinoma pathogenesis: from genes to environment. Nat Rev Cancer 2006, 6:674–687.PubMedCrossRef 2. Budhu A, Forgues M, Ye QH, Jia HL, He P, Zanetti KA, Kammula US, Chen Y, Qin LX, Tang ZY, et al.: Prediction of venous metastases, recurrence, and prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma based on a unique immune response signature of the liver microenvironment. Cancer Cell 2006, 10:99–111.PubMedCrossRef 3.