Cytoplasmic deposition of NFkappaB decoy oligonucleotides is insufficient to inhibit bleomycin-induced pulmonary inflammation.

Lung inflammation leads to severe tissue destruction and ultimately organ failure in a number of diseases, including cystic fibrosis (CF). The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB) regulates expression of many pro-inflammatory mediators. We have assessed the effect of topical administration of NFkappaB decoys in a bleomycin model of acute lung inflammation. Using fluorescein-labelled decoy oligonucleotides (ODN) (80 microg/mouse) we have shown that lipid-complexed and 'naked' ODN transfect conducting airway epithelium in a comparable manner (approximately 65% of cells). However, the ODN were detectable in the cytoplasm, but not in the nucleus of transfected cells. An increase of ODN dose to 500 microg/mouse did not increase nuclear transfection significantly. We determined the effect of cytoplasmic NFkappaB decoys on bleomycin-induced inflammation. We transfected mice with 'naked' decoy and scrambled ODN (500 microg) 1 h before intratracheal administration of bleomycin. We measured IL6 secretion in BALF and lung homogenates and total and differential cell counts in BALF 5 days after bleomycin administration. We did not detect a difference between NFkappaB decoy and scrambled ODN-treated animals in any of the parameters tested. We suggest that access of ODN to the nucleus of airway epithelial cells is a key problem, limiting the efficacy of such decoy strategies, as well as attempts at gene repair.