Cardiac-specific abrogation of NF-κB activation in mice by transdominant expression of a mutant IκBα

Buddhadeb Dawn, Yu Ting Xuan, Moazez Marian, Michael P. Flaherty, Sidney S. Murphree, Traci L. Smith, Roberto Bolli, Keith W. Jones

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

52 Scopus citations

Abstract

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) is a pleiotropic oxidant-sensitive transcription factor that is present in the cytosol in an inactive form complexed to an inhibitory kappaB (IκB) monomer. Various stimuli, including ischemia, hypoxia, free radicals, cytokines, and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), activate NF-κB by inducing phosphorylation of IκB. Phosphorylation of serine residues at positions 32 and 36 is critical for ubiquitination and degradation of IκBα with consequent migration of NF-κB to the nucleus. Although NF-κB is thought to contribute to numerous pathophysiologic processes, definitive assessment of its role has been hindered by the inability to achieve specific inhibition in vivo. Pharmacologic inhibitors of NF-κB are available, but their utility for in vivo studies is limited by their relative lack of specificity. Targeted ablation of genes encoding NF-κB subunits has not been productive in this regard because of fetal lethality in the case of p65 and functional redundancy in the Rel family of proteins. To overcome these limitations, we have created a viable transgenic mouse that expresses a phosphorylation-resistant mutant of IκBα (IκBαS36A,S36A) under the direction of a cardiac-specific promoter. Several transgenic lines were obtained with copy numbers ranging from one to seven. The mice exhibit normal cardiac morphology and histology. Total myocardial IκBα protein level is elevated 3.5- to 6.5-fold with a concomitant 50-60% decrease in the level of IκBβ. Importantly, expression of IκBS32A,S36A results in complete abrogation of myocardial NF-κB activation in response to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and LPS stimulation. Thus, novel transgenic mice have been created that make it possible to achieve cardiac-specific and selective inhibition of NF-κB in vivo. These transgenic mice should be useful in studies of various cardiac pathophysiological phenomena that involve NF-κB activation, including ischemic preconditioning, heart failure, septic shock, acute coronary syndromes, cardiac allograft rejection, and apoptosis.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)161-173
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
Volume33
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2001
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • IκBα
  • LPS
  • Myocardium
  • NF-κB
  • TNF-α
  • Transgenic mouse

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine

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