Regulation of RelA Subcellular Localization by a Putative Nuclear Export Signal and p50

Nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) represents a family of dimeric DNA binding proteins, the pleotropic form of which is a heterodimer composed of RelA and p50 subunits. The biological activity of NF-kappaB is controlled through its subcellular localization. Inactive NF-kappaB is sequestered in the cytoplasm by physical interaction with an inhibitor, IkappaBalpha. Signal-mediated IkappaBalpha degradation triggers the release and subsequent nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB. It remains unknown whether the NF-kappaB shuttling between the cytoplasm and nucleus is subjected to additional steps of regulation. In this study, we demonstrated that the RelA subunit of NF-kappaB exhibits strong cytoplasmic localization activity even in the absence of IkappaBalpha inhibition. The cytoplasmic distribution of RelA is largely mediated by a leucine-rich sequence homologous to the recently characterized nuclear export signal (NES). This putative NES is both required and sufficient to mediate cytoplasmic localization of RelA as well as that of heterologous proteins. Furthermore, the cytoplasmic distribution of RelA is sensitive to a nuclear export inhibitor, leptomycin B, suggesting that RelA undergoes continuous nuclear export. Interestingly, expression of p50 prevents the cytoplasmic expression of RelA, leading to the nuclear accumulation of both RelA and p50. Together, these results suggest that the nuclear and cytoplasmic shuttling of RelA is regulated by both an intrinsic NES-like sequence and the p50 subunit of NF-kappaB.     

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid potentiates apoptosis, inhibits invasion, and abolishes osteoclastogenesis by suppressing nuclear factor-kappaB activation

Because of its ability to suppress tumor cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and inflammation, the histone deacetylase inhibitor suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) is currently in clinical trials. How SAHA mediates its effects is poorly understood. We found that in several human cancer cell lines, SAHA potentiated the apoptosis induced by tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and chemotherapeutic agents and inhibited TNF-induced invasion and receptor activator of NF-kappaB ligand-induced osteoclastogenesis, all of which are known to require NF-kappaB activation. These observations corresponded with the down-regulation of the expression of anti-apoptotic (IAP1, IAP2, X chromosome-linked IAP, Bcl-2, Bcl-x(L), TRAF1, FLIP, and survivin), proliferative (cyclin D1, cyclooxygenase 2, and c-Myc), and angiogenic (ICAM-1, matrix metalloproteinase-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor) gene products. Because several of these genes are regulated by NF-kappaB, we postulated that SAHA mediates its effects by modulating NF-kappaB and found that SAHA suppressed NF-kappaB activation induced by TNF, IL-1beta, okadaic acid, doxorubicin, lipopolysaccharide, H(2)O(2), phorbol myristate acetate, and cigarette smoke; the suppression was not cell type-specific because both inducible and constitutive NF-kappaB activation was inhibited. We also found that SAHA had no effect on direct binding of NF-kappaB to the DNA but inhibited sequentially the TNF-induced activation of IkappaBalpha kinase, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, IkappaBalpha ubiquitination, IkappaBalpha degradation, p65 phosphorylation, and p65 nuclear translocation. Furthermore, SAHA inhibited the NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression activated by TNF, TNFR1, TRADD, TRAF2, NF-kappaB-inducing kinase, IkappaBalpha kinase, and the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB. Overall, our results indicated that NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression inhibited by SAHA can enhance apoptosis and inhibit invasion and osteoclastogenesis.     

Activation of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase in Response to Interleukin-1 Leads to Phosphorylation and Activation of the NF-κB p65/RelA Subunit

The work of Reddy et al. (S. A. Reddy, J. A. Huang, and W. S. Liao, J. Biol. Chem. 272:29167-29173, 1997) reveals that phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) plays a role in transducing a signal from the occupied interleukin-1 (IL-1) receptor to nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB), but the underlying mechanism remains to be determined. We have found that IL-1 stimulates interaction of the IL-1 receptor accessory protein with the p85 regulatory subunit of PI3K, leading to the activation of the p110 catalytic subunit. Specific PI3K inhibitors strongly inhibit both PI3K activation and NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression but have no effect on the IL-1-stimulated degradation of IkappaBalpha, the nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB, or the ability of NF-kappaB to bind to DNA. In contrast, PI3K inhibitors block the IL-1-stimulated phosphorylation of NF-kappaB itself, especially the p65/RelA subunit. Furthermore, by using a fusion protein containing the p65/RelA transactivation domain, we found that overexpression of the p110 catalytic subunit of PI3K induces p65/RelA-mediated transactivation and that the specific PI3K inhibitor LY294,002 represses this process. Additionally, the expression of a constitutively activated form of either p110 or the PI3K-activated protein kinase Akt also induces p65/RelA-mediated transactivation. Therefore, IL-1 stimulates the PI3K-dependent phosphorylation and transactivation of NF-kappaB, a process quite distinct from the liberation of NF-kappaB from its cytoplasmic inhibitor IkappaB.     

Scoparone inhibits PMA-induced IL-8 and MCP-1 production through suppression of NF-kappaB activation in U937 cells

Scoparone is a major component of the shoot of Artemisia capillaris (Compositae), which has been used for the treatment of hepatitis and biliary tract infection in oriental countries. In this study, the effects of scoparone on the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) were examined in U937 human monocytes activated with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). Scoparone (5-100 microM) had no cytotoxic effect in unstimulated cells and concentration-dependently reversed PMA-induced toxicity in the cells stimulated with PMA. Scoparone concentration-dependently reduced the release of IL-8 and MCP-1 protein and expression of IL-8 and MCP-1 mRNA levels induced by PMA. Moreover, scoparone inhibited the levels of NF-kappaB-DNA complex and NF-kappaB activity in the cells stimulated with PMA in a concentration-dependent manner. Scoparone dose-dependently inhibited the phosphorylation of IkappaBalpha and nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB1 p50, RelA p65, and c-Rel p75. These data suggest that scoparone may inhibit the expression of chemokines (IL-8 and MCP-1) in PMA-stimulated U937 cells and a potential mechanism of scoparone may be inhibition of NF-kappaB activation, which is linked to inhibition of NF-kappaB subunits (NF-kappaB1 p50, RelA p65, and c-Rel p75) translocation via suppression of IkappaBalpha phosphorylation.     

Blockade of histone deacetylase inhibitor-induced RelA/p65 acetylation and NF-kappaB activation potentiates apoptosis in leukemia cells through a process mediated by oxidative damage, XIAP downregulation, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 activation

NF-kappaB activation is reciprocally regulated by RelA/p65 acetylation and deacetylation, which are mediated by histone acetyltransferases (HATs) and deacetylases (HDACs). Here we demonstrate that in leukemia cells, NF-kappaB activation by the HDAC inhibitors (HDACIs) MS-275 and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid was associated with hyperacetylation and nuclear translocation of RelA/p65. The latter events, as well as the association of RelA/p65 with IkappaBalpha, were strikingly diminished by either coadministration of the IkappaBalpha phosphorylation inhibitor Bay 11-7082 (Bay) or transfection with an IkappaBalpha superrepressor. Inhibition of NF-kappaB by pharmacological inhibitors or genetic strategies markedly potentiated apoptosis induced by HDACIs, and this was accompanied by enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, downregulation of Mn-superoxide dismutase and XIAP, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase 1 (JNK1) activation. Conversely, N-acetyl L-cysteine blocked apoptosis induced by Bay/HDACIs by abrogating ROS generation. Inhibition of JNK1 activation attenuated Bay/HDACI lethality without affecting NF-kappaB inactivation and ROS generation. Finally, XIAP overexpression dramatically protected cells against the Bay/HDACI regimen but failed to prevent ROS production and JNK1 activation. Together, these data suggest that HDACIs promote the accumulation of acetylated RelA/p65 in the nucleus, leading to NF-kappaB activation. Moreover, interference with these events by either pharmacological or genetic means leads to a dramatic increase in HDACI-mediated lethality through enhanced oxidative damage, downregulation of NF-kappaB-dependent antiapoptotic proteins, and stress-related JNK1 activation.     

Evodiamine abolishes constitutive and inducible NF-kappaB activation by inhibiting IkappaBalpha kinase activation, thereby suppressing NF-kappaB-regulated antiapoptotic and metastatic gene expression, up-regulating apoptosis, and inhibiting invasion

Evodiamine, an alkaloidal component extracted from the fruit of Evodiae fructus (Evodia rutaecarpa Benth., Rutaceae), exhibits antiproliferative, antimetastatic, and apoptotic activities through a poorly defined mechanism. Because several genes that regulate cellular proliferation, carcinogenesis, metastasis, and survival are regulated by nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), we postulated that evodiamine mediates its activity by modulating NF-kappaB activation. In the present study, we investigated the effect of evodiamine on NF-kappaB and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression activated by various carcinogens. We demonstrate that evodiamine was a highly potent inhibitor of NF-kappaB activation, and it abrogated both inducible and constitutive NF-kappaB activation. The inhibition corresponded with the sequential suppression of IkappaBalpha kinase activity, IkappaBalpha phosphorylation, IkappaBalpha degradation, p65 phosphorylation, p65 nuclear translocation, and p65 acetylation. Evodiamine also inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced Akt activation and its association with IKK. Suppression of Akt activation was specific, because it had no effect on JNK or p38 MAPK activation. Evodiamine also inhibited the NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene expression activated by TNF, TNFR1, TRADD, TRAF2, NIK, and IKK but not that activated by the p65 subunit of NF-kappaB. NF-kappaB-regulated gene products such as Cyclin D1, c-Myc, COX-2, MMP-9, ICAM-1, MDR1, Survivin, XIAP, IAP1, IAP2, FLIP, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, and Bfl-1/A1 were all down-regulated by evodiamine. This down-regulation potentiated the apoptosis induced by cytokines and chemotherapeutic agents and suppressed TNF-induced invasive activity. Overall, our results indicated that evodiamine inhibits both constitutive and induced NF-kappaB activation and NF-kappaB-regulated gene expression and that this inhibition may provide a molecular basis for the ability of evodiamine to suppress proliferation, induce apoptosis, and inhibit metastasis.