Nuclear transcription factor NF-kappa B: Role in biology and medicine

Abstract

The inducible transcription factor nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-ҡB) plays a central role in regulation of many immune, inflammatory and carcinogenic responses. While normal activation of NF-ҡB is required for cell survival and immunity, aberrant regulation of NF-ҡB leads to development of many pathological states especially those involved in acute inflammation. Recent advances in our knowledge of the signaling mechanisms those control the activation of NF-ҡB highlights the intriguing aspect of NF-ҡB regulation , namely the ability of many different signal transduction pathways originating from a wide variety of inducing mechanisms to converge on a single target, the NF-ҡB/IҡB complex. In this review we summarize our current understanding of the NF-ҡB signaling pathways, their role in various cellular responses and the potential of using NF-ҡB as a therapeutic target in modern medicine.