Figure 4. Inhibition of NF-B by aqueous ozone. In this study, pre-incubation with aqueous ozone (O₃ medium) led, in TNF-stimulated cells, to an inhibition of IB proteolysis (Western blot analysis), NF-B DNA binding (electrophoretic mobility shift assay), and B-dependent transcription (luciferase assay), as well as to reduced expression of the target genes interleukin-8 and -1ß (immunoassay). This indicates that aqueous ozone inhibited NF-B signaling at the level and/or upstream of IB. In the Fig., the classic NF-B dimer is depicted, consisting of the subunits p65 and p50. The activation pathway of NF-B is described in more detail in the INTRODUCTION.