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Increased Pulmonary Activation of Nuclear Factor-B (NF-B) in Foals Inoculated with Rhodococcus equi is Associated with Increased Expression of Inflammatory Cytokines

Abstract

Previous studies revealed that foals inoculated with virulent Rhodococcus equi had significantly higher pulmonary levels of interleukin-1ß, interleukin-12 p40, interferon-, and tumor necrosis factor- mRNA compared to foals inoculated with an avirulent plasmid-cured derivative. The purpose of this study was to determine if the increases in cytokine expression were associated with increased pulmonary activation of nuclear factor-B (NF-B). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays were performed on pulmonary nuclear protein extracted from foals treated with phosphate-buffered saline, or inoculated with either virulent or avirulent R. equi. NF-B activation was increased in the nuclear extracts from foals inoculated with virulent R. equi at 14 days after inoculation when increased cytokine expression was also observed. Southwestern histochemistry revealed activated NF-B in multinucleated giant cells that often contained bacteria. These results indicate that the cytokine response to R. equi is at least partially mediated by NF-B activation.

Key words: Nuclear factor-B; Rhodococcus equi.

Request reprints from Dr. E. W. Uhl, Department of Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Box 100145, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610-0145 (USA). E-mail: uhle{at}mail.vetmed.ufl.edu.