Oxidative stress plays a critical role in normal functioning of cardiac and vascular cells as well as in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible gene 153 (GADD153), which is upregulated by oxidative stress, regulates the cell cycle and apoptosis. Previously an AP-1 was reported to contribute significantly to GADD153 gene transcriptional activation by oxidative stress. Recently, we have reported that GADD153 gene promoter activity is negatively regulated by nuclear factor 1 (NF1), in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The aim of this study was to elucidate the roles of AP-1 and NF1 in GADD153 gene induction by oxidative stress in VSMCs. H2O2 induced GADD153 mRNA and reduced NF1 mRNA expression. In the electromobility shift assay, H2O2 induced AP-1-binding activity and reduced NF1-binding activity. Overexpression of NF1 significantly suppressed the induction of the GADD153 gene after treatment with H2O2. These results revealed that induction of the GADD153 gene by oxidative stress is regulated mainly by two nuclear factors, NF1 and AP-1. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).