Nuclear factor-kappa B is activated in alveolar macrophages from patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

These experiments demonstrated increased in vivo activation of the nuclear transcriptional regulatory factor NF-kappa B (but not NF-IL6, cyclic adenosine monophosphate responsive element binding protein, activating protein-1, or serum protein-1) in alveolar macrophages from patients with ARDS. Because binding sequences for NF-kappa B are present in the enhancer/promoter sequences of multiple proinflammatory cytokines, activation of NF-kappa B may contribute to the increased expression of multiple cytokines in the lung in the setting of established ARDS.