Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) is an important stress-induced transcription factor in many cell types, including hepatocytes. Previous studies have shown that reactive oxygen species, including hydrogen peroxide, are potent activators of NF-κB. Peroxisome proliferators are a group of rodent chemical carcinogens that have been proposed to act by increasing reactive oxygen in the liver. These results led us to consider whether peroxisome proliferators would increase NF-κB activity in the liver. Here we demonstrate that rats fed diets containing the peroxisome proliferator ciprofibrate exhibit increased hepatic NF-κB DNA-binding activity. This observation suggests that NF-κB may contribute, in part, to peroxisome proliferator-mediated changes in the liver.
