Consecutive sections from human HCC were stained for galectin 3 and NF-κB (p65) (A). The nuclear translocation (b, arrows) was observed in galectin 3 positive cells (Bar=50 μm). ChIP assay was performed on benign tissue and DEN-induced tumors in WT mice (B). The NF-κB-induced transactivation of the Gal3 promoter was significantly induced in the tumor tissues compared to the benign controls (N=4, *p < 0.05).
Hepa1-6 cells were transfected with the pCMX-IκBα (phosphorylation mutant blocking the nuclear translocation of NF-κB) or the control vectors (C). RT-PCR showed that galectin 3 expression decreased in the pCMX-IκBα-expressing cells (mean±SEM, N=3, ***p<0.001). The NF-κB phosphorylation was examined in wt and galectin 3−/− tumors by Western blots (D, E) Less phospho-NF-κB was detected in the knockout tumors (*p<0.05).