Objective To investigate the role of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway inhibition in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated apoptosis of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs).Methods Rats with acute lung injury induced by LPS intratracheal instillation and cultured human venous PMNs were studied. Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC) and gliotoxin were used as NF-κB inhibitors. Additionally, to explore the role of extracellularly regulated protein kinase as an upstream signal in NF-κB pathway on regulating LPS-stimulated PMN apoptosis, PD098059, the specific inhibitor of extracellularly regulated protein kinase, was also applied. The lung injury was determined by protein content and PMN numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. PMN apoptosis was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate (dUTP) end labeling and DNA fragmentation. IκBα degradation was analyzed by West blot. NF-κB DNA binding activity was detected by an electrophoretic mobility shift assay.Results (1) The increase of protein content and PMN numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid induced by LPS (100 μg per rat) intratracheal instillation were alleviated by PDTC (50, 100, or 200 mg/kg, I.p.) in a dose-dependent manner. (2) PMNs apoptosis in vivo or in vitro was delayed by LPS, and accelerated by PDTC, gliotoxin or PD098059 pretreatment. (3) IκBα degradation and increased NF-κB DNA binding activity mediated by LPS were inhibited by PDTC, gliotoxin or PD098059 pretreatment.Conclusion Inhibition of either NF-κB itself or the upstream signals in NF-κB pathway such as extracellularly regulated protein kinases has therapeutic effect on LPS-induced acute lung injury, in which the dysregulation of PMN apoptosis plays an important role.