High molecular weight dextran sulphate enhances the activity of NF-kappaB-regulated promoter in monocytic cell line.

It has been known that lipopolysaccharides (LPS) as well as superantigens increase activity of transcription factor NF-kappaB in monocyte-derived macrophages and monocytic cell lines. To examine the mitogenic effect of high molecular weight dextran sulphate (HMDS), the monocytic cell line THP-1 was transfected with a plasmid vector containing chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene linked to the HIV-1 long terminal repeat (LTR) promoter, that is regulated by the transcription factor NF-kappaB. We have demonstrated that HMDS, similar to bacterial LPS, increases the expression of CAT reporter gene, indicating increased activity of NF-kappaB.