Although IL-37 was reported to repress the expression of IFN-γ in IBD to reduce inflammatory response and clinical symptoms, IFN-γ protein level was also measured significantly elevated in tissues from HCC mice model after intra-tumoral injection with vaccinia virus expressing IL-37 (VV-IL-37), thereby elicited anti-tumor effect (87). This evidence concerns the gene IL37 and inflammatory bowel disease.