Figure 4.

Nicotine induces NF-κB activation in THP-1 cells. (A) NF-κB (p65) activation was quantified basally in THP-1 cells and after incubation with 1 μg/ml nicotine at the indicated time points. The cells were also incubated with 1 μg/ml nicotine plus the IκBα kinase inhibitor, BAY 11-7082 (BAY), for 6 hours, and p65 subunit–containing NF-κB binding determined. (B) THP-1 cells were incubated with various concentrations of nicotine (0.05 to 1 μg/ml) and infected with MTB. In separate wells, THP-1 cells were also incubated with 1 μg/ml nicotine, 5 μM BAY 11-7082, and infected with MTB. CFU was determined after 1 hour (Day 0) and 4 days after infection. Data shown are the mean (±SEM) of three independent experiments. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01 compared with control cells with no nicotine exposure.