SummaryChronic infections with hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV and HCV) are etiologically linked to hepatitis, liver cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Both viruses may induce activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-jB) in hepatocytes that plays a crucial role in the regulation of cell growth and apoptosis. Functional proteomics analysis of proteins associated with NF-jB signaling complexes in both viruses-related HCC tumor and non-tumor tissues may disclose possible common mechanisms in hepatocarcinogenesis. By functional proteomics, we analyzed proteins associated with NF-jB-signaling complexes in four-paired human HCC tumor and non-tumor tissues from HBV-and HCV-infected patients, respectively, and in onepaired tissue with dual viral infection. The quantity of NF-jB-associated proteins was semi-quantitatively measured by protein spot intensity on the gels of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results showed that overexpression of NF-jB-associated Wnt-1 protein in tumor part was detected in the majority of HBV-and HCV-infected HCC samples. These data suggest that enhanced expression of NF-jB-associated Wnt-1 protein might be a mechanism of hepatocarcinogenesis common to HBV-and HCV-infected patients. NF-jB signaling pathway and Wnt-1 protein could be potential targets for designing highly effective therapeutic agents in treating HCC and for chemoprevention of hepatocarcinogenesis.Abbreviations: m/z -mass-to-charge ratio; 2-DE -two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; EMSA -electrophoretic mobility shift assay; HBV -hepatitis B virus; HCC -hepatocellular carcinoma; HCV -hepatitis C virus; HSP -heat shock protein; MALDI-Q-TOF -matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization-quadrupole-time-of-flight; MS -mass spectrometry; NF-jB -nuclear factor-kappa B

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