Expression of the NF-kappaB-dependent gene A20 in endothelial cells (EC) inhibits tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-mediated apoptosis in the presence of cycloheximide and acts upstream of IkappaBalpha degradation to block activation of NF-kappaB. Although inhibition of NF-kappaB by IkappaBalpha renders cells susceptible to TNF-induced apoptosis, we show that when A20 and IkappaBalpha are coexpressed, the effect of A20 predominates in that EC are rescued from TNF-mediated apoptosis. These findings place A20 in the category of "protective" genes that are induced in response to inflammatory stimuli to protect EC from unfettered activation and from undergoing apoptosis even when NF-kappaB is blocked. From a therapeutic perspective, genetic engineering of EC to express an NF-kappaB inhibitor such as A20 offers the mean of achieving an anti-inflammatory effect without sensitizing the cells to TNF-mediated apoptosis.