NF-κB activation is involved in regulation of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) by interleukin-1β

Interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta) regulates the levels of cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) mRNA and protein in the T84 human carcinoma cell line. Here, we studied the role of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in this regulation. Initially, T84 cells were pretreated with the NF-kappaB inhibitor pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, Cells were then stimulated with IL-1 beta, and CFTR mRNA levels were determined after 4 h by Northern blot analysis. As a result of PDTC treatment, IL-1 beta stimulation of CFTR mRNA was blocked, On the other hand, daunorubicin, an NF-kappaB activator, increased the steady-state levels of CFTR mRNA, Furthermore, after treatment with IL-1 beta for 1 h, cytoplasmic I kappaB alpha degradation occurred simultaneously with translocation of p65 into the nucleus, The T84 cells were also transduced with an adenoviral vector expressing a dominant negative form of I kappaB alpha, which prevents I kappaB alpha phosphorylation and the subsequent nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, After viral transduction, the cells were stimulated with IL-1 beta for 4 h, and CFTR mRNA levels were measured by Northern blot analysis. The stimulation of CFTR, induced by IL-1 beta, was also blocked in the presence of the dominant negative mutant. These results indicate that NF-kappaB is involved in the pathway by which IL-1 beta regulates CFTR.