BACKGROUND: Bcl-2 family proteins play a central role in regulating apoptosis. In human, over 20 members of this family have been identified to date. Bfl-1, a member of the Bcl-2 family, has been known to retard apoptosis in various cell lines. However, the function of Bfl-1 remains unclear. METHODS: In order to investigate the Bfl-1 function, we employed yeast two-hybrid system to identify the proteins which are capable of interacting with Bfl-1. The interaction of inhibitor kappaB kinase-beta (IKK-beta) and Bfl-1 was confirmed using glutathione S-transferase pull down assays. To determine which regions of IKK-beta were required for interaction with Bfl-1, we constructed 12 deletion mutants of IKK-beta and 5 deletion mutants of Bfl-1. RESULTS: Bfl-1 interacted with the C-terminal region of IKK-beta which is a subunit of IKK complex, and IKK-beta activity is very important in the NF-kappaB related pathway. In addition, the amino acids 673-745 of IKK-beta were important for Bfl-1 interactions, and amino acids 1-484 of Bfl-1, including Bcl-2 homology domains (BH1, BH2, BH3, BH4), were crucial for IKK-beta interactions. CONCLUSIONS: IKK beta C-terminus contains many serine residues as binding partner of Bfl-1. Our results suggested that Bfl-1 is involved in the NF-kappaB activation through interaction of IKK-beta and Bfl-1. Further studies need to be performed to understand functions of the IKK-beta and Bfl-1 associated with the regulation of the NF-kappaB activation pathway.
Amino Acids ; Apoptosis ; Cell Line ; Glutathione Transferase ; Humans ; I-kappa B Kinase ; NF-kappa B ; Serine* ; Two-Hybrid System Techniques

Colon cancer is the 3rd common malignancy and 4th common cause of cancer death in Korea. Recent studies have shown that abnormal inflammatory response plays a critical role in colon carcinogenesis. A striking example of connection between inflammation and cancer is NF-kappaB, in which key regulator of inflammation and immune response is associated with target for colon cancer treatment. Constitutive NF-kappaB expression in colon cancer is 40-80% in vivo as well as in vitro, and the inactivation of IKKbeta subunit can reduce tumor multiplicity. The possible mechanisms by which NF-kappaB can contribute to colon carcinogenesis include the activator of antiapoptotic gene expression, enhanced cell survival and proliferation, regulation of angiogenesis and promotion of metastasis of cancer cells. Recent insights into the role of NF-kappaB involved in colon cancer development as well as their relevance as therapeutic targets are herein discussed.
Colonic Neoplasms/*etiology/metabolism ; Humans ; I-kappa B Kinase/metabolism/physiology ; Inflammation ; NF-kappa B/metabolism/*physiology

In recent years, it is found that the classical IKKα and IKKβ pathway were closely relates with hematological tumors, except the classical pathogenesis, moreover the classical IKKβ pathway is deeply studied. The studies indicated that the IKKβis activated to phosphorylate the NF-κB through multiple cascades under the effect of extracellular IL-6, TNF-α and other stimulating factors. At the cellular level, the classical IKKβcan promote the tumor cell survival and proliferation, reduce the cell apoptosis, and promote the angiogenesis and cell transfer. Although the classical IKKα plays a role in regulating IKKβ activity, but its role in non-classical pathway is more prominent. This review briefly summarizes the latest advance of researches on the pathogenesis of hematological malignancies in term of IKKα and IKKβpathway, so as to provide the theoretic basis for deeply understanding and studying the pathogenesis of hematologic tumors. At present, blocking the classical IKKα and IKKβ pathway has become a new target for treatment of hematological tumors, moreover, some specific inhibitor for IKKα and IKKβpathway have been developed, for example, LY2409881, BMS 345541 and so on. Most of these drugs are in clinical trials and display some good anti-tumor effects.
Cell Survival ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; I-kappa B Kinase/metabolism* ; NF-kappa B/metabolism* ; Signal Transduction ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: Sepsis still has a high mortality rate despite adequate supportive care. Newer therapeutic modalities have been developed but they have generally ended in failure. Recently, insulin was reported to have an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the IkappaB/NF-kappaB pathway, and may have therapeutic potential in sepsis. However, the precise mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effect of insulin is unclear. This study examined the role of insulin in activating IkappaB/NF-kappaB in macrophage. METHODS: Raw 264.7 cells, a murine macrophage cell line, were used in this experiment. Western blotting using IkappaB Ab and phosphor-specific IkappaB Ab was performed to evaluate the degradation and phosphorylation of IkappaB cells. For the IkappaB Kinase (IKK) activity, an immune complex kinase assay was performed. The level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) was measured by ELISA to determine the level of proinflammatory cytokine. RESULTS: IkappaBalpha degradation began 30 min after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment. However, an insulin pretreatment suppressed the IkappaBalpha degradation caused by the LPS treatment. The phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha and IKK activity was also inhibited by the insulin pretreatment. Finally, the insulin pretreatment showed a tendency to suppress the induction of IL-6 by LPS. CONCLUSION: Insulin might have an anti-inflammatory effect though partial inhibition of the IkappaB/NFkappaB pathway in macrophage cell lines.
Antigen-Antibody Complex ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; I-kappa B Kinase ; I-kappa B Proteins ; Inflammation ; Insulin ; Interleukin-6 ; Macrophages ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Sepsis

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To investigate the effects and its potential mechanism of IKK2 inhibitor LY2409881 on proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell lines.

<b>METHODSb>CCK8 assay was used to detect the effect of LY2409881 on proliferation of DLBCL cell lines; Flow cytometry was used to analyze cell cycle; Western blot was used to analyze apoptosis and its potential mechanism.

<b>RESULTSb>LY2409881 inhibited the proliferation of multiple DLBCL cell lines obviously, and caused G cell arrest. Furtherly, LY2409881 inhibited the expression of c-FLIP, induced the activation of DR4 and caspase 8. Meanwhile, LY2409881 induced the expression of pro-apoptotic protein BAX and inhibited the expression of anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1 and BCL-2.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>LY2409881 inhibits the proliferation of DLBCL cell lines, causes G cell arrest and induces apoptosis via the endogenous and exogenous apoptotic pathways.

Apoptosis ; Cell Line, Tumor ; Cell Proliferation ; Humans ; I-kappa B Kinase ; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse ; Pyrimidines ; Thiophenes

<b>OBJECTIVEb>Incontinentia pigmenti (IP) is a rare X-linked dominant disorder that affects ectodermal tissues. In IP, mutations in NEMO lead to the complete loss of NF-kB activation creating a susceptibility to cellular apoptosis in response to TNF-alpha. Recently, a second nonfunctional copy of the gene, Delta NEMO was identified, opposite in direction to NEMO. Almost 90% of IP whose gene mutation type had been recognized have a recurrent genomic deletion of exons 4-10 of the NEMO (IKK gamma) gene, called NEMO Delta 4-10, which is necessary to activate the NF-kB pathway. Therefore, PCR-based detection of the NEMO deletion is a diagnostic measurement for IP. This study sought to analyze the NEMO Delta 4-10 deletion in NEMO gene of Chinese IP cases.

<b>METHODSb>Seven IP cases and part of their families totally 15 persons were enrolled in this study. The 7 IP cases were aged 41 days to 8 years. Among them 1 was male and 6 were female. Four cases had family history of IP, the other 3 were sporadic cases. Fifty healthy children without any congenital diseases were taken as normal control group. According to the gene characteristics of IP, by PCR measurement NEMO Delta 4-10 deletion in NEMO gene was tested with specific primers In2/JF3R, and NEMO Delta 4-10 deletion in pseudogene Delta NEMO was checked out by primers Rev-2/JF3R.

<b>RESULTSb>Five out of the 7 tested cases (case 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6) showed NEMO Delta 4-10 deletion in NEMO gene. The mothers of case 1 and case 6, 1a and 6a, also suffered from this disease, and their results were just the same as their daughters. For pseudogene Delta NEMO only case 2 and case 4 were proved having NEMO Delta 4-10 deletion, while other cases and families had negative results. For normal control group, NEMO Delta 4-10 deletion was not found either in NEMO gene or in their pseudogene Delta NEMO.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>Incontinentia pigmenti in most cases were caused by NEMO Delta 4-10 deletion in NEMO gene.

Child ; Child, Preschool ; Female ; Humans ; I-kappa B Kinase ; genetics ; Incontinentia Pigmenti ; genetics ; Infant ; Male ; Sequence Deletion

Berberine (BBR) is an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Rhizoma coptidis and has been used for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in China. The development of T2DM is often associated with insulin resistance and impaired glucose uptake in peripheral tissues. In this study, we examined whether BBR attenuated glucose uptake dysfunction through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in HepG2 cells. Cellular glucose uptake, quantified by the 2-[N-(7-Nitrobenz-2-oxa-1,3-diazol-4-yl)-amino]-2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-NBDG), was inhibited by 21% after HepG2 cells were incubated with insulin (10(-6) mol/L) for 36 h. Meanwhile, the expression of alpha7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR) protein was reduced without the change of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. The level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the culture supernatant, the ratio of phosphorylated I-kappa-B kinase-β (IK&kappa;β) Ser181/IKKβ and the expression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-&kappa;B) p65 protein were also increased. However, the treatment with BBR enhanced the glucose uptake, increased the expression of α7nAChR protein and inhibited AChE activity. These changes were also accompanied with the decrease of the ratio of pIKKβ Ser181/IKKβ, NF-&kappa;B p65 expression and IL-6 level. Taken together, these results suggest that BBR could enhance glucose uptake, and relieve insulin resistance and inflammation in HepG2 cells. The mechanism may be related to the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway and the inhibition of AChE activity.
Berberine ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; metabolism ; Hep G2 Cells ; Humans ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; pharmacology ; I-kappa B Kinase ; metabolism ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Insulin ; metabolism ; Insulin Resistance ; Interleukin-6 ; metabolism ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; alpha7 Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor ; genetics ; metabolism

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To investigate the regulatory effects of lanthanum chloride (LaCl3) on the activation of nuclear factor kappa B inhibitor (I&kappa;B) kinase beta (IKKβ) induced by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α).

<b>METHODSb>(1) Hela cells were cultured routinely in vitro. One portion of cells were collected and divided into TNF-α group (cultured with serum-free RMPI 1640 medium containing 20 ng/mL TNF-α for 30 min), low-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group, moderate-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group, high-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group, LaCl3 group (cultured with serum-free RMPI 1640 medium containing 100 µmol/L LaCl3 for 30 min), and control group (cultured with serum-free RMPI 1640 medium for 30 min) according to the random number table. Cells in low-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group, moderate-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group, high-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group were first cultured with serum-free RMPI 1640 medium containing 5, 25, 100 µmol/L LaCl3 for 4 h, and then stimulated with serum-free RMPI 1640 medium containing 20 ng/mL TNF-α for 30 min. There were 3 samples in each group. Cells were collected for detection of intracellular location of NF-&kappa;B/p65 protein by immunofluorescence staining. (2) Another portion of cells were collected and divided into TNF-α group, low-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group, moderate-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group, high-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group, and control group with the same treatment as above. There were 3 samples in each group. The protein levels of NF-&kappa;B/p65 in nuclei, and the protein levels of I&kappa;Bα, phosphorylated I&kappa;Bα (p-I&kappa;Bα) as well as IKKβ and phosphorylated IKKβ (p-IKKβ) in cytoplasm were determined by Western blotting. The binding activity between NF-&kappa;B/p65 in the nuclear and target gene was determined by NF-&kappa;B/p65 transcription factor kit (denoted as absorption value). Data were processed with analysis of variance or LSD-t test.

<b>RESULTSb>(1) High expression of NF-&kappa;B/p65 was observed in cytoplasm of control group. High expression of NF-&kappa;B/p65 was observed in nuclei of TNF-α group. The expression of NF-&kappa;B/p65 in cytoplasm of LaCl3 group was lower than that of control group. In groups treated with LaCl3 and TNF-α, NF-&kappa;B/p65 expression levels in nuclei and cytoplasm were decreased along with the increase in the concentration of LaCl3, which were all lower than those in TNF-α group. (2) There was certain amount of NF-&kappa;B/p65 protein expressed in nuclei of control group. The expression of NF-&kappa;B/p65 protein in nuclei of TNF-α group was higher than that of control group. In groups treated with LaCl3 and TNF-α, the expressions of NF-&kappa;B/p65 protein in nuclei were decreased along with an increase in the concentration of LaCl3. The level of I&kappa;Bα in TNF-α group was significantly decreased but that of p-I&kappa;Bα increased as compared with those in control group. Along with the increase in the concentration of LaCl3, the levels of I&kappa;Bα gradually increased and the levels of p-I&kappa;Bα gradually decreased in groups treated with LaCl3 and TNF-α. There were no statistical differences in expression levels of IKKβ among the 5 groups. The expression of p-IKKβ could be hardly observed in control group, but it was obviously increased in TNF-α group. The expression levels of p-IKKβ in groups treated with LaCl3 and TNF-α were gradually decreased along with the increase in the concentration of LaCl3. The absorption value in TNF-α group was 0.39 ± 0.03, which was higher than that in control group (0, t = -7.23, P<0.01). The absorption values in low-dose LaCl3 +TNF-α group, moderate-dose LaCl3 + TNF-α group, and high-dose LaCl3 +TNF-α group were respectively 0.17 ± 0.03, 0.15 ± 0.03, and 0, which were obviously lower than that in TNF-α group (with t values respectively -6.54, -5.92, -7.23, P values all below 0.01).

<b>CONCLUSIONSb>LaCl3 can block the activation of NF-&kappa;B signaling pathway by blocking the phosphorylation of IKKβ of Hela cells.

Culture Media ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; I-kappa B Kinase ; metabolism ; I-kappa B Proteins ; metabolism ; Lanthanum ; pharmacology ; NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha ; Signal Transduction ; drug effects ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; pharmacology

PURPOSE: The nitric oxide (NO) release by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is the key events in macrophage response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) which is suggested to be a crucial mediator for inflammatory and innate immune responses. NO is an important mediator involved in many host defense action and may also lead to a harmful host response to bacterial infection. However, given the importance of iNOS in a variety of pathophysiological conditions, control of its expression and signaling events in response to LPS has been the subject of considerable investigation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Raw264.7 macrophage cell line was used to observe LPS-stimulated iNOS expression. The expression of iNOS is observed by Western blot analysis and real-time RT-PCR. Protein kinase C (PKC)-alpha overexpressing Raw264.7 cells are established to determine the involvement of PKC-alpha in LPS-mediated iNOS expression. NF-kappaB activity is measured by IkappaBalpha degradation and NF-kappaB luciferase activity assay. RESULTS: We found that various PKC isozymes regulate LPS-induced iNOS expression at the transcriptional and translational levels. The involvement of PKC-alpha in LPS-mediated iNOS induction was further confirmed by increased iNOS expression in PKC-alpha overexpressing cells. NF-kappaB dependent transactivation by LPS was observed and PKC-alpha specific inhibitory peptide abolished this activation, indicating that NF-kappaB activation is dependent on PKC-alpha. CONCLUSION: Our data suggests that PKC-alpha is involved in LPS-mediated iNOS expression and that its downstream target is NF-kappaB. Although PKC-alpha is a crucial mediator in the iNOS regulation, other PKC isozymes may contribute LPS-stimulated iNOS expression. This finding is needed to be elucidated in further study.
Bacterial Infections ; Blotting, Western ; Cell Line ; I-kappa B Proteins ; Immunity, Innate ; Isoenzymes ; Luciferases ; Macrophages ; NF-kappa B ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Protein Kinase C ; Protein Kinase C-alpha ; Protein Kinases ; Toll-Like Receptors ; Transcriptional Activation

<b>OBJECTIVEb>To explore the functional role of protein kinase D1 (PKD1) in the activation of nuclear factor-&kappa;B (NF-&kappa;B) signal pathway and NF-&kappa;B transcription mediated by Aspergillus fumigatus.

<b>METHODSb>A549 cells and HEK293 cells were transfected with green fluorescence protein (GFP) or GFP-PKD1 followed by treatment with 1×10(5) CFU/ml Aspergillus fumigatus conidia for different time lengths. The phosphorylation levels of PKD1, I&kappa;B and p65 (pS276) in the transfected cells were measured by Western blotting. A549 cells were transfected with GFP-PKD1 or siRNA-PKD1, and the phosphorylation of I&kappa;B and p65 (pS276) was examined. Finally, NF-&kappa;B-luc and renilla luciferase reporter pRL-SV40 were cotransfected into GFP- or GFP-PKD1-transfected A549 cells before exposure of the cells to Aspergillus fumigatus conidia for 24 h, and NF-&kappa;B transcriptional activity in the cells was determined using dual-luciferase reporter assay.

<b>RESULTSb>Overexpression of PKD1 significantly increased Aspergillus fumigatus conidia-stimulated phosphorylation of PKD1, I&kappa;B and p65 (pS276), whereas PKD1 knockdown by siRNA-PKD1 suppressed I&kappa;B and p65 (pS276) phosphorylation. Dual luciferase assay demonstrated that PKD1 overexpression markedly enhanced Aspergillus fumigatus-induced NF-&kappa;B transcription in A549 cells.

<b>CONCLUSIONb>PKD1 may contribute to the activation of NF-&kappa;B signal pathway and NF-&kappa;B transcription induced by Aspergillus fumigatus.

Aspergillus fumigatus ; Cell Line, Tumor ; HEK293 Cells ; Humans ; I-kappa B Kinase ; metabolism ; NF-kappa B ; metabolism ; Phosphorylation ; Protein Kinase C ; metabolism ; Signal Transduction ; Transcription Factor RelA ; metabolism ; Transcription, Genetic ; Transfection