title: Ferritin heavy chain upregulation by NF-kappaB inhibits TNFalpha-induced apoptosis by suppressing reactive oxygen species.
abstract: During inflammation, NF-kappaB transcription factors antagonize apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)alpha. This antiapoptotic activity of NF-kappaB involves suppressing the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and controlling the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) cascade. However, the mechanism(s) by which NF-kappaB inhibits ROS accumulation is unclear. We identify ferritin heavy chain (FHC)--the primary iron storage factor--as an essential mediator of the antioxidant and protective activities of NF-kappaB. FHC is induced downstream of NF-kappaB and is required to prevent sustained JNK activation and, thereby, apoptosis triggered by TNFalpha. FHC-mediated inhibition of JNK signaling depends on suppressing ROS accumulation and is achieved through iron sequestration. These findings establish a basis for the NF-kappaB-mediated control of ROS induction and identify a mechanism by which NF-kappaB suppresses proapoptotic JNK signaling. Our results suggest modulation of FHC or, more broadly, of iron metabolism as a potential approach for anti-inflammatory therapy.
authors.affiliation: The Ben May Institute for Cancer Research and The University of Chicago, 924 East 57th Street, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
authors.forename: Can G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Concetta
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bubici
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zazzeroni
authors.forename: Salvatore
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.forename: Joy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Kellean
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Shanthi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jayawardena
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Smaele
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cong
authors.forename: Carole
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Beaumont
authors.forename: Frank M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Torti
authors.forename: Suzy V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Torti
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Franzoso
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D005293:Ferritins / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000378:metabolism; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors*; D015854:Up-Regulation; D000097782:NF-kappaB-Inducing Kinase
chemical_list: D005293:Ferritins; D048031:JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D048670:MAP Kinase Kinase 4; D020929:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Kinases; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000097782:NF-kappaB-Inducing Kinase