Activated nuclear factor-kappa B is present in the coronary vasculature inexperimental hypercholesterolemia

Background: Experimental hypercholesterolemia (HC) is characterized by a de crease in nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability and cellular proliferation. Nuc lear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is a transcriptional factor which plays a coordinating role in inflammation and cellular proliferation and may be inv olved in early atherosclerosis. We examined whether activated NF-kappa B wa s present in experimental hypercholesterolemia in the coronary vasculature in association with a decrease in NO bioavailability. Methods: A total of 1 4 juvenile domestic crossbred pigs were placed on a HC diet and six pigs on a normal diet for 10-12 weeks. A monoclonal antibody to the activated form of the p65 subunit of NF-kappa B was used to detect immunoreactivity in co ronary artery sections. Coronary tissue homogenates were analyzed for activ ated NF-kappa B and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) using Western blotting. In vitro coronary endothelium-dependent relaxation was performed in response to bradykinin, as a measure of NO bioavailability. Results: Int imal staining for activated NF-kappa B was present in 12/14 HC pigs as comp ared with 0/6 controls (P < 0.001). Confocal microscopy confirmed the prese nce of NF-kappa B in the nucleus of intimal cells although the majority of the staining was cytoplasmic. In the HC group, Western blotting revealed an increase in activated NF-kappa B in the vessel wall compared to the normal group, in association with a decrease in the presence of eNOS protein and an attenuated vasorelaxation response to bradykinin. Conclusion: This study suggests a potential role for activation of NF-kappa B, in association wit h a decrease in NO bioavailability, in the initial stages of atherosclerosi s in the coronary vasculature. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All r ights reserved.