H7N9 avian influenza is an emerging viral disease in China caused by avian influenza A H7N9 virus. We investigated host cytokine and chemokine profiles in serum samples of H7N9 patients by multiplex-microbead immunoassays. Statistical analysis showed that IP-10, IL-6, IL-17 and IL-2 were increased in H7N9 infected patients. Furthermore, IL-6 and the chemokine IP-10 were significantly higher in severe H7N9 patients compared to non-severe H7N9 cases. We suggest that proinflammatory cytokine responses, characterized by a combined Th1/Th17 cytokine induction, are partially responsible for the disease progression of patients with H7N9 infection.