Objective: To evaluate the inductive role of interleukin (IL)-1 beta and the inhibitory role of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) on the activation of nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in the rat retina.
Methods: Sixteen Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were randomly divided into two groups. The inductive role of IL-1 beta was observed in group A, in which 5 microl IL-1 beta (5 x 10(7) U/L) was injected intravitreally in the right (experimental) eye and PSS 5 microl in the left (control) eye. The inhibitory role of PDTC was observed in group B. In this group, 10 micro1 PDTC (1 mmol/L) was injected intravitreally in the right (experimental) eye and PSS 5 microl in the left (control) eye 1 hour before the intraocular injection of 5 microl IL-1 beta (5 x 10(7) U/L) in the bilateral eyes, respectively. Nuclear extracts was prepared from the retina 4 h and 24 h post-IL-1 beta challenge, and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) was used to examine NF-kappa B/DNA binding activity in the retina.
Results: At 4 hours after IL-1 beta challenge, NF-kappa B/DNA binding activity increased in the retina of the experimental eyes in group A, and decreased in the experimental eyes of group B, compared to that of their control eyes. At 24 hours after IL-1 beta challenge, NF-kappa B/DNA binding activity in the experimental eyes of group A and in the control eyes of group B was lower than that at 4 hours, respectively.
Conclusions: NF-kappa B in the retina can be activated by intraocular IL-1 beta. NF-kappa B may play an important regulative role in the mechanism of inflammatory reaction in the retina.