The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is inactive when bound to its inhibitory protein IkappaBalpha. On cell stimulation with inflammatory signals, IkappaBalpha is phosphorylated by IkappaB kinases and subsequently degraded. Freed NF-kappaB then induces expression of cytokines such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-8, and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted. These mediators are overexpressed in asthma and are downregulated by glucocorticoids through NF-kappaB activity repression. However, high levels of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor, interleukin-8, and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and presumably secreted are released by peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from patients with severe asthma despite continuous systemic glucocorticoid treatment. We report that these mediators are markedly decreased by pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation. To further characterize the persistent NF-kappaB activation in severe asthma, we analyzed the expression of various components of this activation pathway in healthy subjects and in asthmatics with mild controlled, and moderate and severe uncontrolled disease. We found high amounts of phosphorylated IkappaBalpha characterizing the three asthmatic groups. Western blot analyses indicated that in peripheral blood mononuclear cells the IkappaB kinase beta and p65 levels were greater in moderate and severe asthmatics than in normal subjects. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and immunocytochemistry showed a greater activation status of p65 in severe asthmatics. Our data suggest that exaggerated NF-kappaB activation perpetuates inflammatory mediators production in severe asthma.
Our findings suggest that polymorphisms in the IL-10 promoter and IL-4Ralpha genes are genetic factors that favour beta-lactam immediate allergies in female patients with atopy.
Glucocorticoids (GC) are the most effective anti-inflammatory drugs used in asthma. By a process called trans-activation, they increase the transcription of genes involved in either beneficial processes or certain side effects. Through trans-repression, they inhibit the transcription factors nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1), thereby decreasing the expression of many genes encoding inflammatory mediators such as the cytokine RANTES. We have measured the trans-activation and trans-repression potencies of the five currently available inhaled GC using reporter gene assays. The rank order of trans-activation potencies in HeLa cells stably transfected with a GC-inducible luciferase gene was fluticasone propionate > budesonide and triamcinolone acetonide > beclomethasone dipropionate and flunisolide. For all GC except beclomethasone dipropionate, there was a highly significant correlation between their potency to trans-activate in HeLa cells and their capacity to induce the gluconeogenic enzyme tyrosine aminotransferase in hepatoma tissue culture (HTC) cells. The rank order of trans-repression potencies in A549 lung cells transiently transfected with an AP-1- or NF-kappaB-dependent luciferase gene was fluticasone propionate > budesonide > beclomethasone dipropionate, triamcinolone acetonide, and flunisolide. The same rank order was found for inhibition of RANTES release. Thus, determination of trans-repression and trans-activation potencies of GC may help to predict their capacity to produce anti-inflammatory and side effects, respectively.
The human glucocorticoid receptor isoforms GRalpha and GRbeta are generated by alternative splicing. Upon hormone binding, GRalpha regulates positively or negatively transcription. In particular, it represses numerous genes encoding pro-inflammatory mediators by inhibiting the transcription factors activator protein (AP)-1 and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB. The observation that GRbeta, which does not bind the hormone, may act as a dominant negative receptor is subject to controversy. Because GRbeta must be more abundant than GRalpha to act as such, we evaluated the relative amounts of GRalpha and GRbeta in COS-1, A549 and HeLa cells using a monoclonal antibody that recognises the two isoforms equally well on western blots. Messenger RNA levels of GRalpha and GRbeta were compared by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction analysis. To gain insight into the possible function of GRbeta, we examined the ability of overexpressed GRbeta to alter transcription of glucocorticoid, AP-1 and NF-kappaB inducible reporter genes using transient transfection in COS-1 and A549 cells. Subcellular localisation of GRbeta was determined in A549 cells by immunofluoresence microscopy. Data indicate that GRalpha is the predominant endogenous isoform in A549 and HeLa cells. GRbeta became the major form after transfection with the corresponding expression vector and translocated into cell nuclei even in the absence of hormone. Overexpression of GRbeta inhibited glucocorticoid-induced transcription markedly in COS-1 cells but weakly in A549 cells. We found that GRbeta did not act as a dominant negative modulator of GRalpha for repression of AP-1 and NF-kappaB activities. In fact, both GRbeta and GRalpha inhibited hormone-independently these activities by 25-60%. This property was not shared by the closely related mineralocorticoid receptor. Our results suggest that overexpression of either GRalpha or GRbeta may have an anti-inflammatory effect.
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