S phase dependence and involvement of NF-kappaB activating kinase to NF-kappaB activation by camptothecin.

Camptothecin (CPT) and derivatives are topoisomerase I poisons currently used as anticancer drugs. Their cytotoxicity is maximal for cells in S phase. Using asynchronous and S phase-synchronized HeLa cells, we showed that both the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation and its transcriptional activity, induced by CPT treatment, are enhanced in S phase cells. After CPT treatment, NF-kappaB activation reached a maximum within 2-3 hr and was still detectable after 24 hr. The nature of the complex evolved with time, forming mostly p50/p65 after 2 hr to almost exclusively p52 after 24 hr. In HeLa cells, the different steps of the induction were readily observable in S phase synchronized cells, whereas they were barely noticeable in a randomly growing cell population. The signal progressed through the activation of the IKK complex, the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha, and the degradation of phosphorylated-IkappaBalpha and -IkappaBbeta. The stable expression of wild-type HA-tagged-IkappaBalpha or mutated HA-tagged-IkappaBalpha (S32,36A) allowed us to confirm the essential role of Ser32 and Ser36. NF-kappaB-activating kinase (NIK) could play a role upstream of the IKK complex, as the transient expression of a kinase inactive mutant NIK(K429,430A) abolished the activation of NF-kappaB by CPT. A kinase inactive mutant of mitogen-activated protein/ERK kinase kinase 1 (MEKK1), another kinase susceptible of acting upstream of the signalsome, did not. Cytotoxicity studies with clonal populations expressing different amounts of wild-type or mutated IkappaBalpha revealed that the overexpression of wild-type IkappaBa in large amount increases the sensitivity of HeLa cells to CPT more efficiently than a lower level of expression of non-phosphorylable IkappaBalpha.

The ATM protein is required for sustained activation of NF-kappaB following DNA damage.

Cells lacking an intact ATM gene are hypersensitive to ionizing radiation and show multiple defects in the cell cycle-coupled checkpoints. DNA damage usually triggers cell cycle arrest through, among other things, the activation of p53. Another DNA-damage responsive factor is NF-kappaB. It is activated by various stress situations, including oxidative stress, and by DNA-damaging compounds such as topoisomerase poisons. We found that cells from Ataxia Telangiectasia patients exhibit a defect in NF-kappaB activation in response to treatment with camptothecin, a topoisomerase I poison. In AT cells, this activation is shortened or suppressed, compared to that observed in normal cells. Ectopic expression of the ATM protein in AT cells increases the activation of NF-kappaB in response to camptothecin. MO59J glioblastoma cells that do not express the DNA-PK catalytic subunit respond normally to camptothecin. These results support the hypothesis that NF-kappaB is a DNA damage-responsive transcription factor and that its activation pathway by DNA damage shares some components with the one leading to p53 activation.

Impairment of the mitochondrial electron chain transport prevents NF-kappa B activation by hydrogen peroxide.

A large body of work has been devoted to mechanisms leading to the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappa B in various cell types. Several studies have indicated that NF-kappa B activation by numerous stimuli depends on the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this report, we first demonstrated that inhibition of the electron transport chain by either rotenone or antimycine A gave rise to dose-dependent inhibition of NF-kappa B translocation induced by 150 microM of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Conversely, the impairment of the mitochondrial respiratory chain did not affect T lymphocyte treatment by TNF-alpha (tumor necrosis factor alpha) or pre-B lymphocyte treatment with LPS (lipopolysaccharide). We also showed that oligomycine which inhibits ATP synthase and FCCP, which uncouples respiration also led to dose-dependent inhibition of NF-kappa B activation by H2O2. All these inhibitors were also shown to inhibit mitochondrial respiration in lymphocytes assessed by oxygen consumption. Although only a transient drop in ATP concentration was observed when lymphocytes were treated by H2O2, this effect was remarkably reinforced in the presence of oligomycine demonstrating the crucial role of ATP in the signal transduction pathway induced by H2O2.

Involvement of different transduction pathways in NF-kappa B activation by several inducers.

Double-stimulation was used to demonstrate that, in a T lymphocytic cell line (CEM), phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) rapidly induced NF-kappa B through a signaling pathway which did not involve reactive oxygen species (ROS) and was different from the activation triggered by either H2O2 or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Since these latter compounds were known to activate NF-kappa B translocation in a redox-sensitive way, we have demonstrated that NF-kappa B activation by PMA was resistant to antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) and sensitive to kinase inhibitors staurosporine and H7 while activation by H2O2 or TNF-alpha were not.

Multiple redox regulation in NF-kappaB transcription factor activation.

The well-known Rel/NF-kappaB family of vertebrate transcription factors comprises a number of structurally related, interacting proteins that bind DNA as dimers and whose activity is regulated by subcellular location. This family includes many members (p50, p52, RelA, RelB, c-Rel, ...), most of which can form DNA-binding homo- or hetero-dimers. All Rel proteins contain a highly conserved domain of approximately 300 amino-acids, called the Rel homology domain (RH), which contains sequences necessary for the formation of dimers, nuclear localization, DNA binding and IkappaB binding. Nuclear expression and consequent biological action of the eukaryotic NF-kappaB transcription factor complex are tightly regulated through its cytoplasmic retention by ankyrin-rich inhibitory proteins known as IkappaB. The IkappaB proteins include a group of related proteins that interact with Rel dimers and regulate their activities. The interaction of a given IkappaB protein with a Rel complex can affect the Rel complex in distinct ways. In the best characterized example, IkappaB-alpha interacts with a p50/RelA (NF-kappaB) heterodimer to retain the complex in the cytoplasm and inhibit its DNA-binding activity. The NF-kappaB/IkappaB-alpha complex is located in the cytoplasm of most resting cells, but can be rapidly induced to enter the cell nucleus. Upon receiving a variety of signals, many of which are probably mediated by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), IkappaB-alpha undergoes phosphorylation at serine residues by a ubiquitin-dependent protein kinase, is then ubiquitinated at nearby lysine residues and finally degraded by the proteasome, probably while still complexed with NF-kappaB. Removal of IkappaB-alpha uncovers the nuclear localization signals on subunits of NF-kappaB, allowing the complex to enter the nucleus, bind to DNA and affect gene expression. Like proinflammatory cytokines (e.g. IL-1, TNF), various ROS (peroxides, singlet oxygen, ...) as well as UV (C to A) light are capable of mediating NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, while the sensor molecules which are sensitive to these agents and trigger IkappaB-alpha proteolysis are still unidentified. We also show that a ROS-independent mechanism is activated by IL-1beta in epithelial cells and seems to involve the acidic sphingomyelinase/ceramide transduction pathway.

Interleukin-1 beta induces nuclear factor kappa B in epithelial cells independently of the production of reactive oxygen intermediates.

A large body of work has been devoted to tumor necrosis factor alpha or interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) signaling leading to the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) in various cell types. Several studies have indicated that NF-kappa B activation depends strictly on the production of reactive oxygen intermediates. In this report, we first demonstrated that IL-1 beta is a potent activator of NF-kappa B in various epithelial transformed cell lines (OVCAR-3, SKOV-3, MCF7 A/Z). In these cells, IL-1 beta rapidly induces NF-kappa B through a complete degradation of I kappa B-alpha, while H2O2 activates NF-kappa B with slower kinetics through a partial degradation of I kappa B-alpha, p100 and p105. We showed that IL-1 beta-mediated induction of NF-kappa B in OVCAR-3 and in other epithelial cell lines does not proceed through the production of reactive oxygen intermediates, while the same cytokine activates NF-kappa B in lymphoid cells through the intracellular generation of H2O2. Our study demonstrated that several signaling pathways lead to the activation of NF-kappa B, following IL-1 beta treatment in different cell types.

Topoisomerase poisons activate the transcription factor NF-kappaB in ACH-2 and CEM cells.

The nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) is involved in T cell activation and enhances HIV-1 gene expression. It is activated in response to numerous stimuli, including oxidative stress. Oxidative stress damages membrane lipids, proteins and nucleic acids. We have shown previously that oxidative DNA damage generated by photosensitization could trigger activation of NF-kappaB. We now show that a series of topoisomerase poisons (actinomycin D, camptothecin, daunomycin and etoposide) also activate NF-kappaB (NFKB1/RelA dimer) in ACH-2 and CEM cells. This activation is inhibited by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate. In ACH-2 cells latently infected by HIV-1, camptothecin, daunomycin and etoposide are able to enhance virus production. Since topoisomerase poisons cause the formation of single- and double-strand breaks in DNA, these lesions might be capable of triggering NF-kappaB activation. Indeed, DNA damaging agents generating adducts (trans-platin and 4-nitroquinoline 1-oxide) and/or crosslinks in DNA (cisplatin and mitomycin C) do not or only weakly activate NF-kappaB in T cell lines.

Identification of the nuclear transcription factor NFkappaB in rat after in vivo ethanol administration.

NFkappaB, a nuclear transcription factor, was induced in the brain nuclear fraction of naive rats after an acute injection of ethanol, 2 g/kg. In contrast, rats which had been chronically alcoholised showed the constitutively active NFkappaB-like complex only after a further acute dose of ethanol. Hepatic nuclear fractions did not exhibit the specific NFkappaB-like complex during the first 45 min after acute ethanol injection, beyond that which was normally constitutively present. Such activation of NFkappaB-like complex in the brains of the naive rats may play an important role in the cellular protective response.

Transcription factor NF-kappa B is activated by photosensitization generating oxidative DNA damages.

Reactive oxygen intermediates like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have been shown to serve as messengers in the induction of NF-kappa B and, then, in the activation and replication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-1 in human cells. Because H2O2 can be converted into the highly reactive OH. at various locations inside the cells, we started to investigate the generation of Reactive oxygen intermediates by photosensitization. This technique is based on the use of a photosensitizer which is a molecule absorbing visible light and which can be located at various sites inside the cell depending on its physicochemical properties. In this work, we used proflavine (PF), a cationic molecule having a high affinity for DNA, capable of intercalating between DNA base pairs. Upon visible light irradiation, intercalated PF molecules oxidize guanine residues and generate DNA single-strand breaks. In lymphocytes or monocytes latently infected with HIV-1 (ACH-2 or U1, respectively), this photosensitizing treatment induced a cytotoxicity, an induction of NF-kappa B, and a reactivation of HIV-1 in cells surviving the treatment. NF-kappa B induction by PF-mediated photosensitization was not affected by the presence of N-acetyl-L-cysteine while strong inhibition was recorded when the induction was triggered by H2O2 or by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate. Another transcription factor like AP-1 is less activated by this photosensitizing treatment. In comparison with other inducing treatments, such as phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or tumor necrosis factor alpha, the activation of NF-kappa B is slow, being optimal 120 min after treatment. These kinetic data were obtained by following, on the same samples, both the appearance of NF-kappa B in the nucleus and the disappearance of I kappa B-alpha in cytoplasmic extracts. These data allow us to postulate that signaling events, initiated by DNA oxidative damages, are transmitted into the cytoplasm where the inactive NF-kappa B factor is resident and allow the translocation of p50/p65 subunits of NF-kappa B to the nucleus leading to HIV-1 gene expression.

NF-kappa B transcription factor and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) activation by methylene blue photosensitization.

Reactive oxygen species like hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) have been shown to serve as messengers in the induction of NF-kappa B and then in the activation and replication of HIV-1 in human cells. Because singlet oxygen (1O2) is another very important reactive oxygen species whose action in transcription factor activation is totally undetermined, we started to investigate its role in both NF-kappa B and HIV-1 activation. For provoking unbalanced redox conditions, 1O2 was generated by photosensitization using methylene blue as photosensitizer. Lymphocytes or monocytes (ACH-2 or U1 respectively) latently infected with HIV-1 were treated by photosensitization mediated by methylene blue and the production of reactive oxygen species was monitored through their cytotoxic effect in infected cells. The generation of 1O2 by methylene blue turns out to be very efficient in inducing NF-kappa B as a heterodimer composed of the p50 and p65 subunits. This induction appears specific since other transcription factors like AP-1 are only weakly activated by this treatment. In comparison with other inducing treatments such as phorbol esters or tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), the methylene-blue-mediated activation of NF-kappa B is slow, becoming optimal 180 min after treatment. These kinetic data were obtained by following, on the same samples, both the emergence of NF-kappa B in the nucleus and the disappearance of I kappa B-alpha in the cytoplasmic extracts. Conjugated with the induction of this transcription factor, HIV-1 reactivation from these latently infected cells was also observed by the measurement of reverse transcriptase activity in the cell supernatants. These data allow us to postulate that 1O2 is a biologically important reactive oxygen species which could play a role in the establishment of oxidative stress conditions leading to HIV-1 activation via the presence of NF-kappa B in the nucleus of infected cells.

Opposite effects of pentylenetetrazol on self-defensive and submissive postures in the rat.

In a previous work, using the resident-intruder situation, we have shown that a benzodiazepine inverse agonist could exert a "fear-promoting" effect, in decreasing self-defensive behaviours while increasing submissive postures. To further test this hypothesis, the effects of pentylenetetrazol on different forms of defensive behaviour were examined in male intruder rats confronted with offensive residents. Administration of pentylenetetrazol (10 and 20 mg/kg, IP) increased submissive postures such as immobility and on-the-back, but reduced self-defensive postures. Other active behaviours were not reduced, thus excluding a non-specific behavioural suppression. These results suggest that self-defensive and submissive behaviours can be dissociated and that anxiogenic compounds are more likely to increase submissive behaviours than self-defensive ones.

Opposite effects of agonist and inverse agonist ligands of benzodiazepine receptor on self-defensive and submissive postures in the rat.

The effects of benzodiazepine receptor ligands on different types of defensive behaviours were examined in intruder male rats confronted with offensive residents. Chronic administration, via a subcutaneous silastic pellet, of a full agonist (diazepam) for 15 days increased self-defensive postures as well as social and non-social behaviour whereas submissive postures and flight were reduced. Acute administration of a partial agonist (ZK 91296) resulted in a similar increase in self-defensive postures and a decrease of submission and non-social elements. Acute administration of a partial inverse agonist (FG 7142) reduced defensive postures and social behaviour whereas submissive postures were increased. These results show that activation of benzodiazepine receptors by full or partial agonists increased self-defensive responses to attacks by a conspecific, while decreasing submissive postures. On the contrary, "inverse activation" of these receptors by an inverse agonist increased submissive postures while decreasing self-defensive responses. These data suggest that benzodiazepine receptors are involved in the control of the animal's strategy to respond to an attack of another rat.