Inhibitory effect of 1-tetradecanol on Helicobacter pylori-induced production of interleukin-8 and vascular endothelial growth factor in gastric epithelial cells

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection activates pro-inflammatory mediators, including interleukin (IL) -8 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in gastric epithelial cells. 1-Tetradecanol (1-TD) has been purified from Dendropanax morbifera Leveille; its physiological activities are poorly understood. The present study assessed whether 1-TD has an effect on H. pylori-mediated inflammation in AGS gastric epithelial cells. 1-TD reduced IL-8 production by AGS cells in response to H. pylori in a significant and dose-dependent manner, as measured by ELISA. Western blot analysis demonstrated that 1-TD also suppressed the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B, and two mitogen activated protein kinase species (p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2), but not c-Jun N-terminal kinase in H. pylori-infected AGS cells. As predicted, VEGF expression and hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha stabilization induced by H. pylori in AGS cells were inhibited by 1-TD. In addition, 1-TD directly inhibited the growth of H. pylori in a dose-dependent manner, as investigated by measuring the optical density. These findings indicated that 1-TD may be a potential preventive or therapeutic agent for H. pylori-induced gastric inflammation.