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‑κB, 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‑1α 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.