IFNG and hepatocellular carcinoma: Since mature DCs can secrete a variety of cytokines, including IL-12, IL-18, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, which act on natural killer T (NKT) cells and induce Th1 and CD8+ cytotoxic T cell activation, the propagation of immature DCs promotes HCC progression94 (Fig. 2).