Satilmis, BasriCicek, EgemenKarakas, SerdarKutluturk, KorayOtan, EmrahYilmaz, SezaiSahin, Tevfik Tolga2026-04-042026-04-0420240933-48072195-4720https://doi.org/10.1515/pteridines-2022-0050https://hdl.handle.net/11616/108856Neopterin is a marker of activated immune response, but its role in hepatocarcinogenesis is unknown. The present study aims to evaluate the effects of neopterin on prooncogenic/proinflammatory, apoptotic pathways, and other molecular mechanisms in HCC. We used SNU449, Huh-7, SK-Hep-1, and HepG2 cell lines. A cell viability assay was performed with different concentrations of neopterin. RT-PCR, Western blotting, transwell migration, scratch assay, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production assays were performed at inhibition concentration 50 of neopterin, which was 40 mu M for SNU449 and 80 mu M for other cell lines. There were significant changes in mTOR, STAT3, PI3K, and interleukin-6 gene expressions, which were also supported by the protein expressions. Neopterin did not affect apoptosis in SNU449, while apoptosis increased by all doses of neopterin in SK-Hep-1 and HepG2. ROS production was increased in all cell lines in response to neopterin. Cell migration was reduced in SK-Hep1 and HepG2 but did not change in SNU449 and Huh-7. Our study showed that neopterin is not just a byproduct. The results suggest that neopterin may be a paracrine factor that modulates pro-inflammatory and pro-oncogenic pathways responsible for the biological behavior of HCC in a chronic inflammatory tumor microenvironment.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshepatocellular carcinomatumor microenvironmentneopterinArticle35110.1515/pteridines-2022-00502-s2.0-85209666754Q4WOS:001350436900001Q40000-0002-9132-61150000-0002-2538-57740000-0003-2691-74180000-0002-7030-49530000-0002-8044-0297