Figure 4
IL-17 promotes HCC progression in nude mice. (A) The tumor growth rate of SMMC7721-IL-17 was drastically increased relative to SMMC7721-mock [mean tumor volume (mock vs IL-17), 0.589 ± 0.259 vs 4.175 ± 3.050 cm3, p = 0.031; mean tumor weight (mock vs IL-17), 0.392 ± 0.124 vs 2.140 ± 0.963 g, p = 0.004; respectively]. (B) Overexpression of IL-17 promoted STAT3 and AKT activation in xenografts. (C) Overexpression of IL-17 markedly up-regulated production of IL-6, IL-8, MMP2 and VEGF in mice serum as measured by ELISA. (D) Neoangiogenesis and neutrophil recruitment in xenografts were assayed with CD31 (200× magnification) and Gr-1 staining (400× magnification). SMMC7721-IL-17-derived xenografts showed increased neoangiogenesis and neutrophil infiltration compared with the SMMC7721-mock group. Data are expressed as mean ± SD; Student's t test; **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001.