Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 21, 2026

NF-κB-dependent Luciferase Activation and Quantification of Gene Expression in Salmonella Infected Tissue Culture Cells
Published on: January 12, 2020
NF-kappa B is required within the innate immune system to inhibit microflora-induced colitis and expression of IL-12
Michal F Tomczak1, Susan E Erdman, Theofilos Poutahidis
1Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Abstract:
We have previously presented evidence demonstrating that mice deficient in NF-kappaB subunits are susceptible to colitis induced by the pathogenic enterohepatic Helicobacter species, H. hepaticus. However, it has not been determined whether NF-kappaB is required within inhibitory lymphocyte populations, within cells of the innate immune system, or both, to suppress inflammation. To examine these issues, we have performed a series of adoptive transfer experiments using recombination-activating gene (Rag)-2(-/-) or p50(-/-)p65(+/-)Rag-2(-/-) mice as hosts for wild-type (WT) and p50(-/-)p65(+/-) lymphocyte populations. We have shown that although the ability of H. hepaticus to induce colitis in Rag-2(-/-) mice is inhibited by the presence of either WT or p50(-/-)p65(+/-) splenocytes, these splenocyte populations are unable to suppress H. hepaticus-induced colitis in p50(-/-)p65(+/-)Rag-2(-/-) mice. Colitis in these animals is characterized by increased expression of inflammatory cytokines including IL-12 p40, and depletion of IL-12 p40 from p50(-/-)p65(+/-) mice ameliorates H. hepaticus-induced disease. Consistent with a primary defect in the regulation of IL-12 expression, H. hepaticus induced markedly higher levels of IL-12 p40 in p50(-/-)p65(+/-) macrophages than in WT macrophages. These results suggest that inhibition of H. hepaticus-induced IL-12 p40 expression by NF-kappaB subunits is critical to preventing colonic inflammation in response to inflammatory microflora.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease III: Crohn's Disease
NF-kB-dependent Signaling Pathway
NF-κB-dependent Signaling Mechanism
The heterodimer of NF-κB...
Inflammatory Bowel Disease II: Ulcerative Colitis
T Cell Types and Functions
Th1 cells stimulate dendritic cells to express necessary co-stimulatory molecules on their surfaces for...
Cells of the Innate Immune Response
Phagocytes
Phagocytes police the peripheral tissues by removing cellular debris and responding to the invasion of foreign substances or pathogens. Many phagocytes attack and remove microorganisms even before lymphocytes detect them. The human body has two general...

