Activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in the rat air pouch model of inflammation.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the activation of NF-kappaB in the carrageenan rat air pouch model of inflammation in a time course experiment, and the effect of dexamethasone on NF-kappaB activation. METHODS Air pouch tissue treated with carrageenan (inflamed tissue) was obtained from rats killed at days 1, 2, 3, 6, 14, 21, 28 and 35 after carrageenan challenge. Tissue was also taken from non-carrageenan treated pouches (non-inflamed tissue) at day 3, and from inflamed tissues treated with dexamethasone. Tissue sections were wax embedded and stained with an "activity specific" monoclonal antibody raised against the nuclear localisation signal (NLS) of the p65 sub-unit of NF-kappaB. RESULTS Cells containing activated NF-kappaB were detected in the intimal and sub-intimal regions of the air pouches as early as day 1. There was a significant increase in cells staining for activated NF-kappaB as the inflammation progressed. Initially cells staining were more prominent in the intimal versus sub-intimal region (p<0.001 for day 1) and at later time points the pattern was reversed (p<0.001 for day 6). There was a significant reduction in the number of cells staining for activated NF-kappaB in tissue taken from dexamethasone treated rats, compared with inflamed pouches alone (p<0.001). At no time point was positive staining for activated NF-kappaB observed in blood vessels. CONCLUSIONS Activated NF-kappaB is present in the inflamed air pouch and the activation is associated with the inflammatory response to carrageenan. Treatment with dexamethasone resulted in reduced numbers of cells staining for activated NF-kappaB.