Consistent with the results of Figs. 1e and 3f, GNAS knockout significantly suppressed LPS-induced STAT3 phosphorylation (Fig. 4b), and inhibited LPS-induced STAT3 downstream expression of genes such as Bcl-xl, cyclin D, Mcl1 and IL-6 in HCC cells (Fig. 4c). This evidence concerns the gene MCL1 and hepatocellular carcinoma.