NF kappa B is a participant in the process whereby cells adapt to stress. We have evaluated the activation of NF kappa B pathway by hyperosmotic stress in cultured cardiomyocytes and its role in the activation of caspase and cell death. Exposure of cultured rat cardiomyocytes to hyperosmotic conditions induced phosphorylation of IKK alpha/beta as well as degradation of I kappa B alpha. All five members of the NF kappa B family were identified in cardiomyocytes. Analysis of the subcellular distribution of NF kappa B isoforms in response to hyperosmotic stress showed parallel migration of p65 and ReIB from the cytosol to the nucleus. Measurement of the binding of NF kappa B to the consensus DNA kappa B-site binding by EMSA revealed an oscillatory profile with maximum binding 1, 2 and 6 h after initiation of the hyperosmotic stress. Supershift analysis revealed that p65 and ReIB (but not p50, p52 or cReI) were involved in the binding of NF kappa B to DNA. Hyperosmotic stress also resulted in activation of the NF kappa B-lux reporter gene, transient activation of caspases 9 and 3 and phosphatidylserine externalization. The effect on cell viability was not prevented by ZVAD (a general caspase inhibitor). Blockade of NF kappa B with AdI kappa B alpha, an I kappa B alpha dominant negative overexpressing adenovirus, prevented activation of caspase 9 (more than that caspase 3) but did not affect cell death in hyperosmotically stressed cardiomyocytes. We conclude that hyperosmotic stress activates p65 and ReIB NF kappa B isoforms and NF kappa B mediates caspase 9 activation in cardiomyocytes. However cell death triggered by hyperosmotic stress was caspase- and NF kappa B-independent
