IL-1β stimulates argininosuccinate synthetase gene expression through NF-κB in Caco-2 cells

Argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) is limiting the arginine synthesis and can be stimulated by immunostimulants. We previously identified a putative NF-kappa B element in the human ASS gene promoter but its functionality was unknown (Husson et al., Eur. J. Biochem. 270 (2003) 1887). In the present study, using Caco-2 cells, a human enterocyte line, we demonstrate that IL-1 beta rapidly induces the expression of the ASS gene at a transcriptional level through NF-kappa B activation. Using gel shift assay and double-strand oligonucleotide sequence of the identified putative NF-kappa B binding site of the ASS promoter, we provide evidence that NF-kappa B may functionally interact with this element. (c) 2005 Elsevier SAS. All rights reserved.