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Regulatory RNA induces the production of IFN-γ, but not IL-4 in human lymphocytes: Role of RNA-dependent protein inase (PKR) and NF-κB

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Abstract

Previous results with p9-RNA, obtained from lymph nodes of animals immunized with the peptide p9 of HIV-1, suggested that its effects on lymphocytes could be mediated by RNA-dependent protein kinase (PKR). Here we report that p9-RNA activates PKR leading to the degradation of the inhibitor I-κBα and the concomitant nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation. The fractionation of p9-RNA by affinity chromatography indicates that the poly A(+) p9-RNA is the fraction responsible for PKR activation. We also found that p9-RNA induces the production of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), but not interleukin (IL-4) since only IFN-γ gene promoter contains NF-κB binding site. This study provides the first evidence that transcriptional control of gene expression by regulatory RNAs can be mediated by PKR through NF-κB activation. A model for the mechanism of action of poly A(+) p9-RNA is proposed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Immunology, School of Medicine University of São Paulo, 14049-900, Ribeirão Preto, S.P., Brazil

    Fernando L. De Lucca, Valeria S.F. Sales, Liliana R. Souza, Joana M. Murad & Maria Angelica E. Watanabe

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  1. Fernando L. De Lucca
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  2. Valeria S.F. Sales
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  3. Liliana R. Souza
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  4. Joana M. Murad
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  5. Maria Angelica E. Watanabe
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De Lucca, F.L., Sales, V.S., Souza, L.R. et al. Regulatory RNA induces the production of IFN-γ, but not IL-4 in human lymphocytes: Role of RNA-dependent protein inase (PKR) and NF-κB. Mol Cell Biochem 247, 211–217 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024107512419

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