• Journal of Life Science
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• v.26 no.9
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• pp.991-998
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• 2016

NF-κB acts as a critical transcription factor for the survival of cells via the induction of antiapoptotic genes. Constitutive activation of NF-κB in many types of solid tumors suggests that the inhibition of NF-κB might prevent or inhibit tumorigenesis. Although a number of studies demonstrated that Hsp70 regulated NF-κB activity, the exact mechanism is not clear. This study investigated the functional relationship of Hsp70 and IKKγ in the regulation of NF-κB activation using expression plasmids of components of the IKK complex. Wild-type and deletion mutants of IKKγ were expressed together with Hsp70, and the combined regulatory effect of Hsp70 and IKKγ on NF-κB activation was assayed. Hsp70 suppressed the activation of NF-κB in a reporter plasmid assay. Hsp70 also suppressed the phosphorylation and degradation of IκBα. The suppressive effect of Hsp70 on NF-κB activation was synergistically elevated by IKKγ. The N-terminal IKKβ binding site, C-terminal leucine zipper, and zinc finger domains of IKKγ were not necessary for the suppressive effect. Furthermore, Hsp70 and IKKγ synergistically suppressed the induction of COX-2 expression by lipopolysaccharides in RAW264.7 cells. These results suggest that overexpression of Hsp70 and IKKγ may be a strategic method for inhibition of NF-κB and related diseases.