RESUMEN
Background and purpose:A causal relationship between inflammation and cancer has been extensively investigated. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NK-?B) is a key regulator in inflammation-associated cancer, and is activated by a variety of stimuli. This paper studied the anti-inflammatory effect of NK-104 on NF-?B activated by TNF-? in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (Huh 7). Methods:The cell proliferation was examined by the WST-8 assay. The NF-?B and I?B? expressions were evaluated by western blotting. IL-8 and its product were quantitated by ELISA.Results:TNF-?(1 ng/ml) strongly induced the expression of NF-?B by approximately 1.8-fold compared with the control in the nuclei of Huh 7 cells, the induced NF-?B expression was significantly suppressed by the addition of pitavastatin at 0.1 ?mol/L (P 0.05). Subsequently, the addition of TNF-? significantly increased IL-8 production, which could be reversed by the addition of NK-104.Conclusions:These results suggest that NK-104 at low dose (0.1 ?mol/L) inhibits NF-?B activation and decreases IL-8 production induced by TNF-?. It is therefore expected to play a role in the new strategy for the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma.