TNF and hepatocellular carcinoma: To search for responsible mechanisms, 3T3-L1 adipocytes and Fao hepatoma cells were treated with TNF-α which was associated with reduced insulin signalling and with activation of IkB kinase β (IKKβ) (a part of the upstream NF-κBsignal transduction cascade) and this was reversed by prior treatment of cells with high doses of aspirin.