Leukocytes accumulate at sites of inflammation in response to the induced expression of endothelial cell adhesion molecules. The nuclear transcription factor kappa B (NF-kappa B) plays a critical role in the cytokine-induced expression of these genes in cultured endothelium. We examined the relationship between NF-kappa B activation and endothelial cell adhesion molecule gene expression in vivo during the initiation of acute inflammation. Nuclear NF-kappa B DNA-binding activity was rapidly increased within lung and heart tissues of rats administered endotoxin, consistent with the translocation of NF-kappa B complexes from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. This NF-kappa B was composed of p50 and p65 subunits, and could bind NF-kappa B elements in the E-selectin promoter. NF-kappa B activation was maximal within 30 min and persisted for at least 3 hr after endotoxin treatment. NF-kappa B activation preceded the transcriptional activation of the P-selectin, E-selectin, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 genes. In the lung, increased expression of P-selectin and ICAM-1 protein was detected immunohistochemically. These molecular events were temporally associated with the sequestration of leukocytes and the development of pulmonary inflammation. NF-kappa B activation is therefore an early event in the initiation of acute inflammation in vivo. This molecular pathway may be of consequence in the pathogenesis of acute inflammatory disease.