Effect of Nitric Oxide on activation of nuclear factor-κB and production of tumor necrosis factor in lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary alveolar macrophages

AIM To investigate activation of nuclear factor κB (NF κB) and the expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) in lipopolysaccharide induced pulmonary alveolar Macrophages (PAM) stimulated with Nitric Oxide. METHODS PAM collected by BALT were cultured and divided into three groups: Control group, LPS stimulated group, and NO+LPS group. The NF κB activity of nuclear protein extract from the PAM and the concentration of TNF α in the supernatant were measured by electrophoretic mobility shift assay and ELISA. RESULTS The activity of NF κB and level of TNF α significantly increased 24 h after LPS stimulation; Compared with LPS stimulated group, both NF κB activity and concentration of TNF α were significantly lowered in NO+LPS group. CONCLUSION LPS might activate NF κB in the PAMs and induce the increase of transcription and expression of TNF α gene; NO could inhibit the activation of NF κB and reduce the release of TNF α.