title: Constitutive activation of NF-kappa B in an animal model of aging.
abstract: The pathophysiology of many disease states observed in aged individuals has been linked to the dysregulated production of several pleiotropic cytokines. We have demonstrated that NF-kappa B, a major transcriptional regulator of these aberrantly expressed cytokines, exists in a constitutively activated state in cells obtained from the major lymphoid organs of aged animals. Therapeutic treatment with dietary antioxidants or with agents capable of activating the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-alpha was able to correct the abnormal nuclear NF-kappa B activity, reduce lipid peroxide levels, and eliminate the dysregulated expression of cytokines and other genes under NF-kappa B control. These results suggest that abnormal activation of NF-kappa B in aging contributes to the dysregulated expression of certain pleiotropic cytokines. Effective therapeutic regimens for aging and other inflammatory disease states might benefit from the administration of antioxidants or other agents which specifically activate PPAR-alpha.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Spencer
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Poynter
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Im
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Daynes
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001483:Base Sequence; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D017931:DNA Primers / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008954:Models, Biological; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D016207:Cytokines; D017931:DNA Primers; D016328:NF-kappa B; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D014157:Transcription Factors