Activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) play a key role in the pathogenesis of hepatic inflammation and fibrosis through the production of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Cytokines and growth factors are thought to activate HSCs. TNF-alpha has pleiotropic functions in hepatitis, but its role in liver fibrosis remains elusive. In this study we investigated the regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in the expression of MMPs by HSCs. We also examined whether the immunosuppressant FK506 influences the MMPs expression in human HSCs. Human HSCs, LI90, were treated with TNF-alpha in the presence of FK506. Release of MMPs into culture media, levels of MMP-9 mRNA and activation of NF-kappaB were compared between the cells cultured with or without FK506. Stimulation of human HSCs, LI90 cells, with TNF-alpha caused the induction of pro-MMP-9. Further, TNF-alpha stimulation induced the degradation of IkappaB-alpha and resulted in the transcriptional activation of NF-kappaB. FK506 suppressed this TNF-alpha-induced NK-kappaB activation, alone with pro-MMP-9 mRNA and protein induction, in HSC. TNF-alpha contributes to the perpetuation of liver fibrosis through MMP-9 production from HSCs and that FK506 inhibits the induction of MMP-9 through NF-kappaB pathway suggesting the anti-inflammatory properties of FK506.