Although nuclear factor-jB (NF-jB) usually exerts anti-apoptotic activity, upon activation by interleukin-1 (IL-1) it enhances ultraviolet-B radiation (UVB)-induced apoptosis. This paradoxical effect is associated with NF-jB-dependent pronounced secretion of tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF) which activates TNF-R1 in an autocrine fashion to enhance UVB-induced apoptosis. We demonstrate that sustained TNF transcription in UVB þ IL-1-treated cells involves complete abrogation of the negative feedback loop of NF-jB preventing IjBa resynthesis, hence allowing uncontrolled NF-jB activity. We show that IjBa is not transcriptionally inhibited but resynthesized protein is immediately marked for degradation due to persistent inhibitor of jB kinaseb (IKKb) activity. Continuous IKKb phosphorylation and activation is caused by UVB-mediated inhibition of the phosphatase PP2A. This study demonstrates that the cellular response to different NF-jB activators may be converted to the opposite reaction when both stimuli act in concert. Our data shed new light on the significance of negative feedback regulation of NF-jB and identifies PP2A as the key regulator of this process. The transcription factor nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) is involved in many cellular responses. It comprises five proteins: p50/ p105, p52/p100, p65, c-Rel and RelB that exist as homo-and heterodimers, p65/p50 being the most abundant form. In unstimulated cells, NF-kB is sequestered in the cytoplasm through interaction with the inhibitory protein IkBa that masks its nuclear localization signal. 1 NF-kB (p65/p50) is mostly activated by pro-inflammatory mediators, including tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF), interleukin-1 (IL-1) or LPS. Activated receptors mediate activation of a multi subunit inhibitor of kB kinase (IKK) complex consisting of IKKa, -b and -g. Activated IKK acts through phosphorylation of IKKb at Ser177/181, subsequently catalysing phosphorylation of inhibitor of kBa (IkBa) at Ser32/36, leading to its polyubiquitination and proteasomal degradation. Released NF-kB translocates into the nucleus to activate responsive genes, among these the one encoding IkBa. 2 Nuclear export of resynthesized IkBa is more potent than import, allowing cytosolic localization of the inactive complex, thus creating a negative feedback loop. 3 As NF-kB serves many different functions, tight regulation by the negative feedback loop is crucial. Only highly controlled and transient expression of NF-kB-driven genes ensures proper function. Uncontrolled NF-kB activity is linked to transformation, proliferation, suppression of apoptosis and metastasis. 4,5 Thus, strategies interfering with signalling pathways activating NF-kB have become major targets for anticancer interventions. 6 We have previously shown that stimulus-dependent activation of NF-kB can result in completely opposite effects. Stimulation with IL-1 protects keratinocytes and epithelial cells from cytotoxic effects of death ligands in an NF-kB-dependent manner by upregulation of anti-apoptotic cFLIP and cIAPs. 7 In contr...