Involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinases and nuclear factor-kappa B activation in nitric oxide-induced interleukin-8 expression in human pulp cells.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on interleukin-8 (IL-8) production and the involvement of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) signaling pathways in primary cultured human pulp cells.

STUDY DESIGN: IL-8 production was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. MAPK activation and IkappaB degradation and phosphorylation were determined by western blotting.

RESULTS: Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an NO donor, has increased IL-8 secretion and mRNA expression in a dose- and time-dependent manner. SNP induced the phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK), degradation and phosphorylation of IkappaB, and activation of NF-kappaB. Furthermore, inhibition of the ERK, p38, and NF-kappaB pathways blocked SNP-induced IL-8 secretion.

CONCLUSION: Human pulp cells showed NO-induced IL-8 expression via the MAPK and NF-kappaB pathways, which may play an important role in the inflammatory responses of pulp and periapical lesions.