Direct evidence for involvement of NF-kappaB in transcriptional activation of tumor necrosis factor by a spirochetal lipoprotein

Infect Immun. 2000 Sep;68(9):5447-9. doi: 10.1128/IAI.68.9.5447-5449.2000.

Abstract

Variable major lipoprotein (Vmp) is a major tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-inducing component of Borrelia recurrentis, the agent of louse-borne relapsing fever. B. recurrentis Vmp rapidly stimulates nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB and proinflammatory cytokine gene expression in the human monocyte-like cell line MonoMac 6. By overexpressing disabled mutant IkappaBalpha in MonoMac 6 cells cotransfected with a reporter gene, we provide evidence that NF-kappaB is essential for the transcriptional activation of TNF in this system.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Proteins / physiology*
  • Borrelia / physiology*
  • Cell Line
  • Cytokines / genetics
  • Humans
  • NF-kappa B / physiology*
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Transcriptional Activation*
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / genetics*

Substances

  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Cytokines
  • NF-kappa B
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • VMPA1 protein, Borrelia recurrentis