title: Activation of hepatic NF-kappaB by phenobarbital in rats.
abstract: Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) is an important stress-induced transcription factor in many cell types. In this study we examined if the hepatic tumor promoting agent phenobarbital could activate NF-kappaB in the liver. Rats were fed 0.05% phenobarbital in the diet for 3, 6, or 10 days. Benzyloxyresorufin dealkylase activity was greatly increased in rats receiving phenobarbital. The DNA binding activity of NF-kappaB was determined using electrophoretic mobility shift assays. After 3 days, NF-kappaB activity was increased two-fold in rats receiving phenobarbital. NF-kappaB activity continued to increase at 6 and 10 days in rats fed phenobarbital, with a four-fold increase seen at day 10. Cold competition and antibody supershift experiments showed the DNA binding activity to be specific for NF-kappaB. These data show that phenobarbital activates hepatic NF-kappaB in rats.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Center for Toxicology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, 40506, USA. nfshpg@ukcc.uky.edu
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Spear
authors.forename: H P
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Glauert
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D010634:Phenobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D010634:Phenobarbital