Endoplasmic reticulum D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive stores regulate nuclear factor-kappa B binding activity in a calcium-dependent manner

The transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) plays critical r oles in neuronal survival and plasticity and in activation of immune respon ses. The activation of NF-kappaB has been closely associated with changes i n intracellular calcium levels, but the relationship be tween the two remai ns unclear. Here we report that inhibition of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) D- myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate (IP3)-gated calcium release caused decreas ed basal NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity in cultured rat cortical neurons. A ctivation of NF-kappaB in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha and gluta mate was completely abolished when IP3 receptors were blocked, and NF-kappa B activation in response to depletion of ER calcium by thapsigargin treatme nt was also decreased by IP3 receptor blockade, We further investigated the relationship between IP3 receptor activation and NF-kappaB activity using a cell-free system. Microsomes enriched in the ER were isolated from adult rat cerebral cortex, resuspended, and treated with agents that induce or in hibit ER calcium release, They were then recentrifuged, and the supernatant was added to cytoplasmic extract isolated from the same source tissue. We found that microsomes released an NF-kappaB stimulating signal in response to activation of IP3 receptors or inhibition of the ER Ca2+-ATPase, but not in response to ryanodine. Studies of intact cells and cell-free preparatio ns indicated that the signal released from the ER was not calcium and was h eat- and trypsin sensitive. Our data suggest that activation of IP3 recepto rs is required for a major component of both constitutive and inducible NF- kappaB binding activity in neurons and that decreasing ER intraluminal calc ium levels triggers release of a diffusible NF-kappaB-activating signal fro m the ER.