NF-kappaB activation during IgG immune complex-induced lung injury: requirements for TNF-alpha and IL-1beta but not complement.

The development of acute lung inflammatory injury induced by alveolar deposition of IgG immune complexes in rats requires increased production of the proinflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) as well as the complement activation product, C5a. Transcription of TNF-alpha and IL-1beta genes are known to be regulated by the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB). During IgG immune complex-induced lung inflammation, NF-kappaB has been shown to be activated in both alveolar macrophages and whole lung tissues. In the current studies we sought to determine whether TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, the complement system and oxidants contribute to the activation of NF-kappaB in the lung. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis of nuclear extracts from whole lung tissues demonstrated that NF-kappaB activation induced by the presence of IgG immune complexes occurred independently of the complement system and neutrophils. Intrapulmonary instillation of TNF-alpha or IL-1beta into normal lung induced NF-kappaB, whereas C5a was incapable of causing NF-kappaB activation. In alveolar macrophages stimulated in vitro with IgG immune complexes, NF-kappaB activation was greatly attenuated in the presence of antibodies to TNF-alpha or IL-1beta. Similarly, in vivo blockade of TNF-alpha or IL-1beta suppressed lung NF-kappaB activation during IgG immune complex-induced lung injury. N-acetylcysteine, but not catalase, suppressed activation of lung NF-kappaB. These data suggest that TNF-alpha and IL-1beta function in an autocrine or paracrine manner to amplify the lung inflammatory response through activation of NF-kappaB. Oxidants not derived from neutrophils also appear to play a role in this process, whereas complement activation products are not involved in this phenomenon.