Activation of nuclear transcription factor kappa B in rat carrageenin-induced pleurisy

In this study we investigated the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B in t he carrageenin-induced rat pleurisy. We found that nuclear factor-kappa B D NA binding activity, measured in inflammatory cells which migrated into the pleural cavity, was detectable at 3 and 6 h, markedly increased at 24 h an d decreased at 48 h after induction of the inflammation. The increase in nu clear factor-kappa B DNA binding activity paralleled both exudate formation and leukocyte infiltration. Treatment of animals with pyrrolidine dithioca rbamate, an inhibitor of nuclear factor-kappa B activation, inhibited the n uclear factor-kappa B DNA binding activity as well as exudate formation and leukocyte infiltration. These results indicate that nuclear factor-kappa B is activated in the carrageenin-induced pleurisy and suggest that its inhi bition may represent a novel strategy for the modulation of inflammatory re sponse. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.