In vitro activation and nuclear translocation of NF-kappa B catalyzed by cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase and protein kinase C.

We have examined whether a precursor form of NF-kappa B, a DNA-binding protein that plays a role in the transcriptional control of several genes, including kappa immunoglobulin light chain and interleukin-2 receptor alpha subunit, could be activated in vitro by protein kinases. DNA-binding activity of NF-kappa B was induced in the cytosolic fraction of unstimulated 70Z/3 murine pre-B cells by incubation with the catalytic subunit of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) or protein kinase C (PKC). In contrast, PKA and PKC did not activate NF-kappa B in nuclear extracts from unstimulated cells. Identical results were obtained with the human natural killer-like cell line YT, which can be induced to express the interleukin-2 receptor alpha subunit in response to interleukin-1, cyclic AMP, or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Furthermore, when nuclei from unstimulated cells were incubated with PKA- or PKC-treated cytosolic fraction for 30 min at 30 degrees C, NF-kappa B was translocated into the nuclei. This translocation did not occur at 4 degrees C and was inhibited by wheat germ agglutinin but not by concanavalin A. Our findings support the conclusion that NF-kappa B exists in the cytoplasm of unstimulated cells in an inactive form that can be converted by exposure to PKA or PKC to an active DNA-binding form that can translocate to the nucleus.

Interleukin 1 and cyclic AMP induce kappa immunoglobulin light-chain expression via activation of an NF-kappa B-like DNA-binding protein.

Interleukin 1 (IL-1) induces the synthesis of kappa immunoglobulin light chains and the expression of surface immunoglobulin in the murine pre-B-cell line 70Z/3 (J. G. Giri, P. W. Kincade, and S. B. Mizel, J. Immunol. 132:223-228, 1984). In the present study, we found that these effects of IL-1 are mimicked by cyclic AMP (cAMP) analogs and cAMP-elevating drugs. The induction of kappa immunoglobulin light-chain gene expression by IL-1 was associated with an increase in intracellular cAMP levels. Incubation of 70Z/3 cells with IL-1 or cAMP resulted in the activation of the kappa immunoglobulin enhancer, as detected by the induction of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) in cells transfected with a kappa enhancer-CAT expression plasmid. In contrast, CAT plasmids lacking a kappa immunoglobulin enhancer were inactive in the presence of IL-1 or cAMP. Furthermore, IL-1 and cAMP analogs and inducers were found to induce the activation of a NF-kappa B-like DNA-binding protein that exhibited specificity for the kappa immunoglobulin enhancer. These results suggest that cAMP may play an important role as a second messenger for IL-1 in the induction of kappa immunoglobulin light-chain synthesis in pre-B cells via the activation of a DNA-binding protein that is similar or identical to NF-kappa B.

The human prointerleukin 1 beta gene requires DNA sequences both proximal and distal to the transcription start site for tissue-specific induction.

In these studies, we have identified DNA sequences and specific protein interactions necessary for transcriptional regulation of the human prointerleukin 1 beta (proIL-1 beta) gene. A cell-type-independent lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-responsive enhancer element located between -3757 and -2729 bp upstream from the transcription start site (cap site) consisted of at least six discrete subregions which were essential to the maximal induction by LPS in transfected monocytes. The enhancer also appeared to mediate phorbol myristate acetate induction in monocytes and IL-1 responsiveness in fibroblasts. Deletion and base substitution mutations along with DNA binding studies demonstrated that the enhancer contained a minimum of three functional protein binding sequences, two of which appeared to be important for gene induction. One of the essential proteins which bound to the enhancer was similar or identical to members of the C/EBP family of transcription factors required for both IL-1- and LPS-specific induction of the IL-6 gene (i.e., the NF-IL6 proteins). When ligated to the proIL-1 beta cap site-proximal region (located between -131 to +12), both the proIL-1 beta and the simian virus 40 enhancer elements functioned more efficiently in monocytes than in HeLa cells, which are not normally competent for IL-1 beta expression. When ligated to the murine c-fos promoter, however, the proIL-1 beta enhancer was inducible in phorbol myristate acetate-stimulated HeLa cells, suggesting the existence of a proIL-1 beta promoter-proximal requirement for tissue specificity.

Inhibitory effect of interleukin 4 on production of interleukin 6 by adult T-cell leukemia cells.

Freshly isolated leukemic cells from patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) produce high levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), which is suggested to play an important role in thrombocytosis, elevation of C-reactive protein, and hypercalcemia in ATL. In this study, we investigated the effects of T-cell growth factors such as interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interleukin 4 (IL-4) on IL-6 production by ATL cells in vitro. Although IL-2 and/or IL-4 enhanced the cell proliferation of freshly isolated ATL cells from seven of nine patients, IL-2 did not affect the IL-6 release in most cases. In contrast, another T-cell tropic factor, IL-4 markedly inhibited the release of IL-6 in the conditioned medium in all cases. This IL-4-mediated inhibition of IL-6 release was completely abrogated by the addition of anti-IL-4 monoclonal antibody. Time course experiments demonstrated that IL-4 reduced the secretion of IL-6 for a prolonged period of time (more than 72 h). By Northern analysis, IL-4 reduced the transcription level of IL-6 mRNA. Furthermore, by flow cytofluorometry with the use of anti-human IL-4 receptor monoclonal antibody, ATL cells showed the significant level of IL-4 receptor on their cell surfaces without any stimulation. These data suggest that IL-4 may play an important regulatory role in the production of IL-6 in ATL.

Calcium dependency in the growth of adult T-cell leukemia cells in vitro.

The effects of calcium, calcium antagonists, and calmodulin inhibitors on the growth of adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells were studied in vitro. Fresh ATL cells from patients and established ATL cell lines did not grow well in a low-calcium (less than 0.01 mM) medium. However, their growth was enhanced by the addition of calcium to the medium in a dose-dependent manner. The maximum response was induced at 4 mM calcium, which was higher than that of the normal serum calcium level, 2.5 mM. Other leukemia cells, except ATL, grew well in the low-calcium medium, and their growth was not enhanced by the addition of calcium. Calcium antagonists and calmodulin inhibitors inhibited the growth of ATL cells at the concentration of 10(-5)-10(-7) M, while they did not inhibit the growth of other leukemia cells. Furthermore, the expression of interleukin 2 receptors (Tac antigens) on ATL cells was also enhanced by calcium and was inhibited by calcium antagonists and calmodulin inhibitors. In accordance with these results, the increase of the extracellular calcium concentration resulted in the increase of the intracellular calcium concentration in ATL cells, but not in other leukemia cells. These results suggest that calcium and calmodulin play a critical role in regulating the growth of ATL cells.

Autocrine stimulation of interleukin 1 alpha in the growth of adult human T-cell leukemia cells.

In a previous study, we reported that adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells produce interleukin 1 (IL1)-like factors that stimulate murine thymocyte proliferation, the production of interleukin 2 (IL2), and the expression of IL2 receptors (IL2R) on normal human T-cells in the presence of concanavalin A. In this communication, we studied the effect of IL1 on the growth of ATL cells in vitro. When ATL cells freshly obtained from patients were cultured with recombinant (r) human IL1 alpha, IL1 beta, or IL1-like factors produced by ATL cell lines, the growth of ATL cells was stimulated in a concentration-dependent manner. Maximum stimulation was observed at a concentration of 50-100 units/ml of IL1. The expression of IL2R on ATL cells was also enhanced by IL1, but the production of IL2 was not induced. These effects of rIL1 alpha or beta were specifically inhibited by anti-IL1 alpha or anti-IL1 beta antibody. Furthermore, the spontaneous growth of ATL cells was also inhibited by anti-IL1 alpha antibody, but not by anti-IL1 beta antibody. ATL cells exhibited enhanced expression of IL1 receptors on their surface as detected by the binding of 125I-labeled rIL1 alpha. These results suggest that IL1 alpha produced by ATL cells stimulates the growth of ATL cells by an autocrine mechanism.

Immunosuppressive factors from adult T-cell leukemia cells.

The mechanism of immunodeficiency in adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) patients was studied in vitro. Peripheral blood lymphocytes from ATL patients and ATL cell lines such as Hut 102, MT 1, and MT 2 were not activated to proliferate by the stimulation with concanavalin A and suppressed normal lymphocyte proliferative responses induced with concanavalin A when cultured together. The sera from ATL patients and the culture supernatants from ATL cells and ATL cell lines also suppressed normal lymphocyte proliferative responses induced with concanavalin A. By Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography, the suppressive factors were fractionated as a single peak with the molecular weights of 50,000 to 70,000. The suppressive factors were unstable to acid treatment but stable to the treatment with base, heat, freezing-thawing, and trypsin. The factors suppressed the production of interleukin 2 by T-cells and the responsiveness of T-cells to interleukin 2, but not the expression of interleukin 2 receptors on T-cells and the production of interleukin 1 by monocytes. These results suggest that the immunosuppressive factors produced by ATL cells have some roles in the induction of immunodeficient states in ATL patients.

Production of bone-resorbing activity corresponding to interleukin-1 alpha by adult T-cell leukemia cells in humans.

The physicochemical properties and relationship of bone-resorbing activity and interleukin 1 (IL-1) produced by adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cells and cell line were studied in vitro. The culture supernatant of ATL cell line, MT2, and peripheral blood lymphocytes freshly obtained from ATL patients had both IL-1 activity detected by the stimulation of murine thymocyte-proliferative responses and bone-resorbing activity detected by the stimulation of 45Ca release from prelabeled murine fetal bones. By Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography, both activities were eluted as a single peak at approximately Mr 15,000. By the chromatofocusing technique, the isoelectric point values of both activities were estimated as pH 4.8 and 5.2. Furthermore, both activities were absorbed with rabbit anti-IL-1 alpha antiserum, but not with anti-IL-1 beta antiserum. These results suggest that ATL cells and cell line produce bone-resorbing activity which corresponds to IL-1 alpha and that this IL-1 alpha is one of the most important causes of hypercalcemia in ATL patients.

Suppressive effect of interleukin-4 on the differentiation of M1 and HL60 myeloid leukemic cells.

The effect of interleukin-4 (IL-4) on the proliferation and differentiation of myeloid leukemic cell lines was studied in vitro. A culture of murine myeloid cell line, M1, with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Escherichia coli, induced differentiation into macrophages that expressed Fc receptors and phagocytic activity. IL-4 did not induce the differentiation of M1 cells but inhibited the differentiation of M1 cells induced with LPS. On the other hand, LPS arrested the proliferation of M1 cells. IL-4 had no effect on the proliferation of M1 cells but restored the LPS-induced arrest of the proliferation of M1 cells. IL-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) also induced the differentiation of M1 cells into macrophages and arrested proliferation. IL-4 suppressed the IL-1-, IL-6-, and TNF-induced differentiation of M1 cells and restored the arrested proliferation with IL-1, IL-6, and TNF. Similar results were obtained with human myeloid cell line HL60. These results suggest that IL-4 has a suppressive effect on the differentiation of myeloid cells into macrophages.

Establishment and characterization of a clonal human T-cell line, MKB-1 derived from a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia.

A human T-cell line, designated as MKB-1, was established by cloning procedures in a suspension culture from a peripheral blood of a 17-year-old female patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia. The immunological marker profile of MKB-1 indicated that unlike a myeloid phenotype of the original leukemic cells, the cells were positive for CD3 (both cell surface and cytoplasm), T cell receptor (TcR) alpha/beta heterodimer, CD4, CD5, CD7, CD10, CD57 (Leu7), SN-1 and the cytoplasmic TcR beta chain. These findings indicate the T cell nature of the established cells. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase (TdT) was also detected in 60%. We did not detect markers of human myeloid and B cell associated antigens, HLA-class II or immunoglobulin chains. Cytogenetic study revealed that the MKB-1 cells had a female hypo-tetraploid karyotype with chromosomal abnormalities including a translocation between chromosomes 10 and 14. The breakpoint of chromosome 14 of this translocation, 14q11.2, is known to be the location of TcR alpha and delta genes; t(10; 14) (q26; q11.2) is a variant type of a T cell neoplasm-associated translocation, t (10; 14) (q24; q11.2). The MKB-1 cell line is unusual in that its T cell characteristics are phenotypically and cytogenetically distinct from the original myeloid leukemia cells.

Restoration of impaired T cell functions in tumor-bearing mice by the administration of interleukin 1.

The effect of in vivo administration of recombinant human interleukin 1 (IL-1) on T cell functions in tumor-bearing mice was studied using an in vitro assay system. The in vitro induction of trinitrophenyl (TNP)-specific cytotoxic T cell and proliferative T cells responses from spleen cells was impaired in X5563 plasmacytoma-bearing C3H/He mice. However, the administration of IL-1 alpha or IL-1 beta to tumor-bearing mice restored T cell functions in a dose-dependent manner. Antigen-presenting activities of spleen cells in tumor-bearing mice for T cell activation were not restored by the administration of IL-1. The activities of cytotoxic T cells and cytostatic T cells specific for X5563 cells were also enhanced by the administration of IL-1. Furthermore, in IL-1-treated mice, NK cell activity of spleen cells detected in terms of the killing of Yac-1 cells was also restored. In accordance with these results, the growth of X5563 cells was significantly inhibited and the lymphocytes from IL-1-treated mice specifically inhibited the growth of tumor cells. These results suggest that the in vivo administration of IL-1 restored the impaired T cell and NK cell functions in tumor-bearing mice and activated protective immunity against tumor cells. Thus, recombinant IL-1 can be applied for tumor immunotherapy.

Production of interleukin 1 by adult T cell leukemia (ATL) cell lines.

The accessory function for T cell activation and the production of interleukin 1 (IL 1) of adult T cell leukemia (ATL) cell lines were studied in vitro. ATL cell lines such as Hut-102, MT-1, and MT-2 functioned as accessory cells for the stimulation of human T cell proliferative response induced with concanavalin A (Con A) and induced allogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction. Cell lysates of three ATL cell lines and the culture supernatant of MT-2 cells had activities to stimulate murine thymocyte proliferative response. Then we studied physicochemical properties of the factors produced by MT-2 cells. The m.w. of the factors were approximately 15,000 by Sephacryl S-200 column chromatography, and their isoelectric point values were 5.4 and 4.8 by chromatofocussing technique. No fraction contained interleukin 2 (IL 2) activities to stimulate IL 2-dependent murine cytotoxic T cell line. The thymocyte-stimulating activities of the factors were absorbed with rabbit anti-IL 1 alpha antiserum, but not with anti-IL 1 beta antiserum. Furthermore, messenger RNA extracted from MT-2 cells hybridized to complementary DNA of IL 1 alpha, but not of IL 1 beta, by Northern blot hybridization analysis. The factors from MT-2 cells could stimulate the production of IL 2 and the expression of IL 2 receptors of human T cells in the presence of Con A as well as recombinant IL 1 alpha and IL 1 beta did, and these activities were also blocked by rabbit anti-IL 1 alpha antiserum, but not by anti-IL 1 beta antiserum. These results suggest that the factors produced by MT-2 cells correspond to IL 1 alpha. However, the accessory function of MT-2 cells for T cell activation was not blocked by rabbit anti-IL 1 antiserum. These results suggest that ATL cell lines produce IL 1-like factors, but the accessory function of ATL cell lines for T cell activation is mediated by some other mechanisms rather than by secreted IL 1-like factors.

Decrease in HLA-DR-positive monocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Monocyte populations expressing HLA-DR antigens were studied in SLE patients by flow cytofluorometry with indirect immunofluorescence. Both the number of HLA-DR-positive monocytes and the expression of HLA-DR antigens on monocytes were markedly decreased in active SLE patients and were recovered to the normal level in inactive SLE patients. Because Ia-positive monocytes play a regulatory role for several immune responses, the decrease in HLA-DR-positive monocytes will result in abnormal regulations of immune responses and will play some critical role in the pathogenesis and the process of SLE.

Reduced function of HLA-DR-positive monocytes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Accessory function of monocytes for T-cell activation was studied in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Nylon column-purified T cells alone were not activated to proliferate by stimulation with concanavalin A (Con A), but the addition of dish-adherent monocytes restored the T-cell response in a dose-dependent manner (accessory function). This accessory function is mediated by HLA-DR-positive monocytes. This accessory function of monocytes was markedly impaired in SLE patients. The dysfunction of monocytes was marked in an active stage of SLE but not in an inactive stage of SLE. Furthermore, SLE T cells were not fully activated with Con A in the presence of normal monocytes, suggesting that both monocyte and T-cell functions were impaired in SLE patients. The dysfunction of SLE monocytes was due to neither the development of suppressor monocytes nor the overproduction of prostaglandins, because SLE monocytes did not suppress the accessory function of normal monocytes and indomethacin did not restore the dysfunction of SLE monocytes. The percentage of HLA-DR-positive cells in a monocyte population was markedly decreased in active SLE patients and moderately decreased in inactive SLE patients. Thus, the impairment of accessory function of monocytes in SLE patients seems to be derived from a decrease in HLA-DR-positive monocytes. These results suggest that the dysfunction of HLA-DR-positive monocytes plays an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE.

Monocyte (macrophage)-specific antibodies in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Antibodies reactive for monocytes (macrophages) were found in the sera of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). These antibodies were present in both IgG and IgM fractions and worked under both warm (37 degrees C) and cold (4 degrees C) conditions. These antibodies were specific for monocytes, because cytotoxic antibodies for monocytes were absorbed with monocytes, but not with T cells, B cells, and granulocytes. Furthermore, their specificity is also different from anti-HLA-DR antibody. The presence of these antibodies correlated with the activity of disease. They were found in 12 of 14 active SLE and 7 of 16 inactive SLE patients. The treatment of normal monocytes with these SLE sera and complement resulted in the depletion of their accessory function for T-cell activation and their phagocytic activity. In the previous paper, we reported that the accessory function of monocytes for T-cell activation was impaired in SLE patients. These results suggest that monocyte-specific antibodies play an important role in the pathogenesis of SLE through disturbing the monocyte regulatory function for immune responses.

Involvement of NF-kappaB p50/p65 heterodimer in activation of the human pro-interleukin-1beta gene at two subregions of the upstream enhancer element.

A region between-3134 and -2729 bp upstream from the transcription site of the human pro-interleukin 1beta (proIL-1beta) gene was identified as an LPS-responsive enhancer element. In this study, the influence of the sequences located between -3134 and -2987 on the transcriptional activity of the proIL-1beta gene in LPS-stimulated Raw 264.7 cells was examined in detail. The results obtained by transient transfection of fos -CAT constructs that contained serial 5'-deletion mutations showed that the region between -3134 and -3059 appears to be required for the induction of transcription by LPS. Gel shift assay studies with synthetic oligonucleotides corresponding to partial sequences of the latter region and nuclear extracts from stimulated cells revealed specific protein binding sites between -3110 and -3090 and between -3079 and -3059. These specific bindings were time and LPS dose dependent. The results of supershift analysis using specific antibodies against transcription factors suggested that both binding complexes contained the NF-kappaB components p50 and p65, and did not contain other NF-kappaB proteins (p52, c-Rel, Rel B), AP-1 proteins (c-Fos, C-Jun), CREB or C/EBPbeta (NF-IL6). Mutation of either of the putative NF-kappaB-binding sites in the enhancer element decreased the LPS-stimulated transcriptional activity. These data indicated that two NF-kappaB-binding sites, which are located between -3134 and -3059, are critical for the activation of proIL-1beta gene transcription.

Cyclic AMP--an intracellular second messenger for interleukin 1.

We demonstrated that interleukin 1 (IL-1), a potent peptide mediator in immune and inflammatory responses, stimulates the synthesis of cAMP in a variety of IL-1-responsive cell targets. We also showed that cAMP analogs and cAMP-inducing agents can replace IL-1 in the induction of interleukin 2 receptors on lymphocytes as well as in phytohemagglutinin-induced murine thymocyte proliferation. By use of IL-1 and the cAMP-inducer, forskolin, a direct correlation between the induced level of cAMP and the degree of lymphocyte interleukin 2 receptor expression or thymocyte proliferation was established. Our results indicate that cAMP may be an important intracellular second messenger for IL-1.

Signal transduction pathway for IL-1. Involvement of a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein in the activation of adenylate cyclase.

Human Il-1 alpha induces the synthesis of kappa Ig L chains by the pre-B cell line 7OZ/3, IL-2R alpha by the human NK cell line YT, and PGE2 by human rheumatoid synovial cells. Pertussis toxin (PT) markedly inhibited all three IL-1-induced activation events. The inhibition by PT was associated with a decrease in IL-1-mediated cAMP production. PT also inhibited IL-1-stimulated cAMP production in crude membrane fractions from 7OZ/3, YT, and 3T3 fibroblasts. In addition, IL-1 stimulated GTPase activity present in the membranes IL-1-responsive cells. Furthermore, the IL-1-induced GTPase activity was sensitive to PT. PT induced the ADP-ribosylation of a 46-kDa substrate in membrane preparations from IL-1-responsive cells. Cholera toxin also induced the ADP-ribosylation of a 46-kDa substrate in the same membrane preparations. The present findings indicate that the IL-1R is linked to a PT-sensitive G protein that stimulates the activity of adenylate cyclase.

Interleukin-4 inhibits the production of interleukin-1 by adult T-cell leukemia cells.

Freshly isolated leukemic cells from patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) produce high levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1), which is believed to play an important role in neutrophilia, elevation of C-reactive protein, osteolytic bone lesions, hypercalcemia, and fever in ATL. However, relatively little is known regarding the regulatory mechanism of IL-1 production in ATL. Interleukin-4 (IL-4) affects the monocytes- and neoplastic cells-mediated cytokine production. In this study, we investigated the effect of IL-4 on IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta production by ATL cells in vitro. IL-4 was found to markedly inhibit the release of IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta into the conditioned medium in a dose-dependent manner. Northern blot analysis of steady-state IL-1 mRNA demonstrated that IL-4 treatment of ATL cells resulted in a reduction of IL-1 mRNA. These results support the notion that ATL cells spontaneously produce IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta; however, such production can be inhibited by the immunomodulating agent, IL-4. IL-4 may play an important regulatory role in the production of IL-1 in ATL.

Transcriptional regulation of the human interleukin-6 gene promoter in human T-cell leukemia virus type I-infected T-cell lines: evidence for the involvement of NF-kappa B.

Freshly isolated leukemic cells from patients with adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I)-infected T-cell lines constitutively produce high levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6) protein and mRNA. To clarify the mechanisms that lead to the activation of IL-6 gene in HTLV-I-infected cells, we first studied the regulatory regions in the IL-6 gene transcription by transfection of chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter plasmids containing the IL-6 promoter. When transfected into HTLV-I-infected T-cell lines MT-2 and HUT-102, IL-6 promoter/CAT plasmids were strongly activated without any stimulation. By deletion analysis of 5' upstream region of IL-6 promoter, the DNA region between -73 and -59 bp from the transcription start site of IL-6 gene was important in the expression of IL-6/CAT activities in HTLV-I-infected cells. This region contains nuclear factor (NF)-kappa B binding site. The site-directed mutation of the kappa B motif in IL-6/CAT plasmid resulted in the complete abrogation of IL-6 promoter activity in these cells. Furthermore, when IL-6 promoter/CAT plasmid was introduced into an HTLV-I-uninfected T-cell line, Jurkat, IL-6 promoter activity was silent in the basal level, but strongly increased by the cotransfection with an HTLV-I tax expression plasmid. However, tax expression plasmid showed no transactivation activity, when kappa B site was mutated in IL-6 promoter/CAT plasmid. We found that the IL-6 kappa B site specifically formed a complex with NF-kappa B-containing nuclear extracts from MT-2 and HUT-102 cells. Finally, transfection of HTLV-I tax into Jurkat cells resulted in induction of specific binding of nuclear extracts to the NF-kappa B sequence. These results strongly suggest that HTLV-I tax gene may transactivate IL-6 gene through kappa B site in HTLV-I-positive T-cell lines and activation of NF-kappa B may be crucial in HTLV-I-induced IL-6 gene activation in ATL.