title: Role of transcriptional activation of I kappa B alpha in mediation of immunosuppression by glucocorticoids.
abstract: Glucocorticoids are potent immunosuppressive drugs, but their mechanism is poorly understood. Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B), a regulator of immune system and inflammation genes, may be a target for glucocorticoid-mediated immunosuppression. The activation of NF-kappa B involves the targeted degradation of its cytoplasmic inhibitor, I kappa B alpha, and the translocation of NF-kappa B to the nucleus. Here it is shown that the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone induces the transcription of the I kappa B alpha gene, which results in an increased rate of I kappa B alpha protein synthesis. Stimulation by tumor necrosis factor causes the release of NF-kappa B from I kappa B alpha. However, in the presence of dexamethasone this newly released NF-kappa B quickly reassociates with newly synthesized I kappa B alpha, thus markedly reducing the amount of NF-kappa B that translocates to the nucleus. This decrease in nuclear NF-kappa B is predicted to markedly decrease cytokine secretion and thus effectively block the activation of the immune system.
authors.affiliation: Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599, USA.
authors.forename: R I
authors.initials: RI
authors.lastname: Scheinman
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Cogswell
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lofquist
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Baldwin
mesh_terms: D002460:Cell Line; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D007165:Immunosuppression Therapy; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C083487:I kappa B beta protein; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; C000606204:NFKBIA protein, human; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000072000:NF-KappaB Inhibitor alpha; D003907:Dexamethasone