Proteolysis-inducing factor has also been shown to activate NF-κB in primary hepatocytes and the human cancer cell line HepG2, resulting in the increased production of interleukin-6 and -8 (IL-6 and IL-8) and C-reactive protein and the decreased production of transferrin (Watchorn et al, 2001). This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and cancer.