Reduction-oxidation (redox) state constitutes such a potential signaling mechanism for the regulation of an inflammatory signal associated with oxidative stress. Exposure of alveolar epithelial cells to ascending DeltapO(2) regimen +/-reactive oxygen species (ROS)-generating systems induced a dose-dependent release of interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha. Similarly, the Escherichia coli-derived lipopolysaccharide-endotoxin (LPS) up-regulated cytokine biosynthesis in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Irreversible inhibition of gamma-glutamylcysteine synthetase, the rate-limiting enzyme in the biosynthesis of glutathione (GSH), by L-buthionine-(SR)-sulfoximine (BSO), induced the accumulation of ROS and augmented DeltapO(2) and LPS-mediated release of cytokines. Analysis of the molecular mechanism implicated revealed an inhibitory-kappaB (IkappaB-alpha)/nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB)-independent pathway in mediating redox-dependent regulation of inflammatory cytokines. BSO stabilized cytosolic IkappaB-alpha and down-regulated its phosphorylation, thereby blockading NF-kappaB activation, yet it augmented cytokine secretion. Glutathione depletion is associated with the augmentation of oxidative stress-mediated inflammatory state in a ROS-dependent mechanism and the IkappaB-alpha/NF-kappaB pathway is redox-sensitive but differentially involved in regulating redox-dependent regulation of cytokines. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.