Fig. 2

HNF4α feedback circuit in hepatocellular oncogenesis. IL-6/STAT3 activates the transcription of miRNAs, such as miR-24 and miR-629, which inhibit the activity of HNF4α. HNF4a directly regulates miR-124 expression. MiR-124 can suppresses STAT3 activation, restores the function of HNF4α. When IL-6/STAT3 pathway is activated, HNF4α activity is inhibited, miR-124 levels is reduced, hepatocytes enter the inflammatory state, which is exacerbated via a positive feedback mechanism resulting in a severe inflammatory microenvironment that promotes tumor invasion and metastasis