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Neopterin activates transcription factor nuclear factor‐κB in vascular smooth muscle cells
Author(s) -
Hoffmann Georg,
Schobersberger Wolfgang,
Frede Stilla,
Pelzer Larissa,
Fandrey Joachim,
Wachter Helmut,
Fuchs Dietmar,
Grote Jürgen
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(96)00729-6
Subject(s) - pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate , neopterin , transcription factor , nitric oxide synthase , nitric oxide , pteridine , chemistry , vascular smooth muscle , microbiology and biotechnology , nf κb , biology , endocrinology , signal transduction , biochemistry , immunology , gene , enzyme , smooth muscle
We have previously shown that the pteridine compound neopterin stimulates inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene expression in vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro. The mechanisms whereby neopterin exhibits these effects remained unclear. The present study demonstrates that neopterin induces the translocation of the transcription factor nuclear factor‐κB (NF‐κB) to the nucleus. Pretreatment of cells with the antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate completely suppressed the effects of neopterin on NF‐κB activation, iNOS gene expression, and nitric oxide release. From these data we conclude that neopterin activates the translocation of NF‐κB subunits to the nucleus by modulating the intracellular redox state. This is one possible explanation for the impact of neopterin on iNOS gene expression.