Ketamine suppresses endotoxin-induced NF-κB expression

Purpose: Ketamine reduces endotoxin-induced production of proinflammatory cytokines, including tumour necrosis factor- α (TNF), in several types of inflammatory cells, including monocytes and macrophages. Transcription of the genes that encode production of these proinflammatory cytokines is regulated by nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB). Cytoplasmic B protein is activated by endotoxin (LPS) as well as by TNF, allowing B protein to migrate into the cell nucleus to activate gene transcription for these inflammatory mediators. Because NF-κB is likely involved in brain injury and inflammatory neurodegenerative disease, such as multiple sclerosis, we examined whether ketamine inhibits LPS-induced activation of NF-κB in human glioma cellsin vitro and intact mouse brain cellsin vivo.