The allergen Der p1 induces NF-kappa B activation through interference with I kappa B alpha function in asthmatic bronchial epithelial cells

Asthma is an inflammatory disease of the airways due to an interaction between genetic and environmental factors, and allergy represents the most important predisposing trait. Here, we investigated why and how the allergen most often implicated in the pathogenesis of asthma and other allergic diseases causes the expression of the genes for proinflammatory cytokines in airway epithelium. We found that Her pi promotes activation of transcriptional factor NF-kB by interference with the function of its cytoplasmic inhibitor IkB alpha. This is the first report on the effect of an allergen on transcriptional factors. Our results improve the understanding of the mechanisms involved in allergic diseases and suggest potential therapeutic utility of NF-kB blockers. (C) 1997 Academic Press.