Osmotic stress blocks NF-κB-dependent inflammatory responses by inhibiting ubiquitination of IκB

The inhibitory effects of hypertonic conditions on immune responses have been described in clinical studies; however, the molecular mechanism underlying this phenomenon has yet to be defined. Here we investigate osmotic stress-mediated modification of the NF-κB pathway, a central signaling pathway in inflammation. We unexpectedly found that osmotic stress could activate IκBα kinase but did not activate NF-κB. Osmotic stress-induced phosphorylated IκBα was not ubiquitinated, and osmotic stress inhibited interleukin 1-induced ubiquitination of IκBα and ultimately blocked expression of cytokine/chemokines. Thus, blockage of IκBα ubiquitination is likely to be a major mechanism for inhibition of inflammation by hypertonic conditions.