 nuclear factor kappa b ( nf - kappa b ) is a transcription factor that regulates expression of several genes coding for inflammatory and immunoregulatory proteins including the neutrophil chemotactic cytokine mip-2 . in previous studies we found that crocidolite asbestos activates the nuclear translocation of nf - kappa b as well as mip-2 gene expression in rat alveolar type ii cells . 
 here we report that both crocidolite - induced nf - kappa b activation of mip-2 gene expression can be attenuated by the antioxidant tetramethylthiourea , suggesting the dependence of these responses on oxidative stress . 
 crocidolite exposure of rle - tn cells also increased production of h2o2 , a response that was inhibited by the mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitor thenoyltrifluoroacetone ( ttfa ) . 
 ttfa treatment of rle-6tn cells also inhibited crocidolite - induced nuclear translocation of nf - kappa b and mip-2 gene expression . 
 these results indicate crocidolite exposure of rat alveolar type ii cells results in increased production of mitochondrial - derived hydrogen peroxide and that mitochondrial - derived oxidants contribute to crocidolite activation of nf - kappa b and increases in mip-2 gene expression.imagesfigure 1figure 2figure 3figure 4 
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