TNF and hepatocellular carcinoma: As far as cytokine level is concerned, HCC microenvironment has been shown to present a unique innate immunity signature which includes an increase in immuno-suppressive cytokines (IL-4, IL-5, IL-8, and IL-10) associated with a reduction of immune-stimulating cytokines (IL-1, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon gamma (IFN-c) [39].