Publication
Title
Dissociated glucocorticoids with anti-inflammatory potential repress interleukin-6 gene expression by a nuclear factor-kappa B-dependent mechanism
Author
Abstract
Synthetic glucocorticoids (GCs) remain among the most effective agents for the management of chronic inflammatory diseases. However, major side effects severely limit their therapeutic use. Physiologic and therapeutic activities of GCs are mediated by a nuclear receptor belonging to a superfamily of ligand-inducible transcription factors that, in addition to directly regulating their cognate gene programs, can also mutually interfere with other signaling pathways. We recently identified selective ligands of the glucocorticoid receptor that dissociate transactivation from activator protein 1 transrepression, and most importantly retain in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. To further document the mechanisms of action sustaining the observed in vivo activity, we report here on the interference of dissociated GCs with nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappa B)-driven gene activation. We show that dissociated GCs repress tumor necrosis factor-induced interleukin-6 gene expression by an NF-kappa B-dependent mechanism, without changing the expression level of inhibitor kappa B. The DNA-binding activity of induced NF-kappa B also remained unchanged after stimulation of cells with the various compounds. Evidence for a direct nuclear mechanism of action was obtained by analysis of cell lines constitutively expressing a fusion protein between the DNA-binding domain of the yeast Gal4 protein and the transactivating p65 subunit of NF-kappa B, which was able to efficiently repress a Gal4-dependent luciferase reporter gene upon addition of the dissociated compounds. We therefore conclude that, in addition to dissociating transactivation from activator protein 1 transrepression, dissociated GCs mediate inhibition of NF-kappa B signaling by a mechanism that is independent of inhibitor kappa B induction.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Molecular pharmacology. - Bethesda, Md
Publication
Bethesda, Md : 1999
ISSN
0026-895X
Volume/pages
56 :4 (1999) , p. 797-806
ISI
000082726100017
UAntwerpen
Publication type
Subject
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 07.12.2017
Last edited 30.01.2023
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