Absence of NF-κB subunit p50 ameliorates cold immobilization stress-induced gastric ulcers

Stress ulcers are a common complication in critically ill patients, but the underlying mechanism is little known. This study characterized the function of the p50 subunit of NF-κB in an experimental model of cold immobilization stress-induced gastric ulcers. Stress-induced gastric mucosal inflammation and gastric injury were examined in wild-type and NF-κB p50-deficient mice. When subjected to cold immobilization stress, NF-κB was rapidly activated in the gastric mucosa in WT mice whereas the majority of κB DNA-binding activity was abrogated from p50−/− mice. Deficiency of p50 ameliorated stress-induced expression of TNF-α, MIP-2, and ICAM-1, resulting in reduced mucosal accumulation of neutrophils and gastric injury. These data indicated a critical role for the p50 in the gastric mucosal inflammatory response to cold restraint stress.