Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection might activate nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), an oxidant-sensitive transcription regulator of inducible expression of inflammatory genes such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). We studied the role of NF-kappaB on expression of COX-2 in H. pylori-stimulated gastric cancer cell lines by using antioxidants, glutathione (GSH), and N-acetylcysteine (NAC) as well as an NF-kappaB inhibitor, pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC). Gastric adenocarcinoma cell lines derived from Caucasian (AGS) cells and Korean (SNU-484) cells were used to study the role of NF-kappaB on COX-2 expression by H. pylori. They were treated with GSH, NAC, or PDTC in the presence of H. pylori. mRNA expression and protein level for COX-2 were determined by Northern blot and RT-PCR analysis as well as Western blot analysis. NF-kappaB activation was examined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. As a result, H. pylori induced a time-dependent expression of mRNA and protein for COX-2 via activation of NF-kappaB, which was inhibited by GSH, NAC, and PDTC in the cells. In conclusion, oxidant-sensitive transcription factor NF-kappaB may play a novel role in expression of COX-2 by H. pylori stimulation in gastric cancer cells.