Transient overexpression of catalase does not inhibit TNF- or PMA-induced NF-kappa B activation

H2O2 has been proposed as a second messenger involved in cell signaling for NF-kappa B activation. In the present study, this hypothesis was tested by transiently overexpressing catalase, a specific scavenger of H2O2, in COS-1 cells. A mammalian expression vector was constructed by incorporating catalase gene from pCAT10 clone into the unique EcoRI site of the pSG5 vector which contains the SV-40 promoter. Transient transfection of the catalase expression vector by the DEAE-dextran method led to a four-fold increase in catalase activity and catalase content as detected by immunoblot analysis. This level of increase was detected in both nuclear/mitochondrial- and cytosolic/microsomal fractions. Overexpression of catalase, however, did not block TNF- or PMA-induced NF-kappa B activation. These results weaken the hypothesis that H2O2 is a second messenger for TNF- and PMA-signaling for NF-kappa B activation.