We previously reported that several stresses can induce cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant expression in a nuclear factor B (NF-B)-dependent manner. In this study, we focused further on the regulation of NF-B. The activation of NF-B and the subsequent cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant induction in response to interleukin-1 (IL-1) were inhibited by proteasome inhibitors, MG132 and proteasome inhibitor I. Translocation of NF-B into nuclei occurs by the phosphorylation, multi-ubiquitination, and degradation of IB␣, a regulatory protein of NF-B. Nascent IB␣ began to degrade 5 min after treatment with IL-1 and disappeared completely after 15 min. However, IB␣ returned to basal levels after 45-60 min. Interestingly, resynthesized IB␣ was already phosphorylated at Ser-32. These results suggest that 1) the upstream signals are still activated, although the translocation of NF-B peaks at 15 min; and 2) the regulated protein(s) acts downstream of IB␣ phosphorylation. Western blotting showed that the resynthesized and phosphorylated IB molecules were also upward-shifted by multi-ubiquitination in response to IL-1 treatment. On the other hand, ATP-dependent Leu-Leu-Val-Tyr cleaving activity transiently increased, peaked at 15 min, and then decreased to basal levels at 60 min. Furthermore, the cytosolic fraction that was stimulated by IL-1 for 15 min, but not for 0 and 60 min, could degrade phosphorylated and multi-ubiquitinated IB␣. These results indicate that the transient translocation of NF-B in response to IL-1 may be partly dependent on transient proteasome activation.
Nuclear factor B (NF-B)1 participates in the regulation of the expression of multiple immediate-early genes involved in immune, acute-phase, and inflammatory responses (1). NF-B is a heterodimer protein of the Rel family of transcription factors. In mammalian cells, the factors include p65 (RelA), RelB, c-Rel, p50/p105 (NF-B1), and p52/p100 (NF-B2). NF-B proteins are constitutively present in cells and are retained in the cytoplasm associated with the inhibitory protein IB (2, 3). Activated NF-B complexes, typically composed of p50 and p65, are translocated to the nucleus in response to several cytokines (TNF-␣, IL-1, and IL-2), bacterial endotoxin, and stresses (UV, H 2 O 2 ).(1, 4 -6). The activation of NF-B appears to require the phosphorylation and degradation of the IB proteins, thereby allowing the rapid translocation of NF-B from the cytoplasm to the nucleus (4, 7-9). In particular, it has been shown that the phosphorylation of Ser-32 and Ser-36 and the ubiquitination at Lys-21 and Lys-22 are essential for targeting IB for signal-induced degradation by the ubiquitin/proteasome system (10). The ubiquitin-dependent degradation of regulatory shortlived proteins plays an important role in cellular processes, including the cell cycle, immune system functions, inflammatory responses, and tissue differentiation. A key element in the regulation process is E3, a member of the ubiquitin-substrate ligase family of enzymes. After bin...