Luminescence-based in vivo monitoring of NF-κB activity through a gene delivery approach

Cell Commun Signal. 2013 Mar 21;11(1):19. doi: 10.1186/1478-811X-11-19.

Abstract

Background: Monitoring activity of specific signaling pathways in vivo is challenging and requires highly sensitive methods to detect dynamic perturbations in whole organisms.

Results: In vivo gene delivery of a luciferase reporter followed by bioluminiscence imaging allows measuring NF-κB activity in mice liver and lungs.

Conclusions: This protocol allows a direct measure of NF-κB activity through quantification of bioluminescence signal, demonstrating its accuracy and sensitivity in different animal models and experimental conditions. Variants could be also applied for the analysis of NF-κB activity in different tissues or for studying other signaling pathways in vivo.