Induction by staurosporine of nitric oxide synthase expression in vascular smooth muscle cells: role of NF-κB, CREB and C/EBPβ

摘要

These findings suggest that in cultured VSMC a staurosporine-sensitive protein kinase exists, which is unlikely to be related to PKC, that prevents iNOS gene expression presumably by suppressing basal C/EBP activity. They also indicate that NF-κB and a member of the C/EBP family of transcription factors, presumably C/EBPβ, act synergistically under basal conditions and possibly also following exposure to IL-1β in the up-regulation of iNOS gene expression in these cells. Targeting of the activation of C/EBPβ may thus represent an interesting approach to interfere selectively with the cytokine-induced over-production of NO in acute and chronic inflammatory conditions.