Abstract

The NF-kB family consists of a group of inducible transcription factors which regulate immune and inflammatory responses and protect cells from undergoing apoptosis in response to cellular stress. A number of signal transduction cascades can activate the NF-kB pathway to result in the translocation of the NF-kB proteins from the cytoplasm to the nucleus where they activate the expression of specific cellular genes. In this review, we discuss cellular genes which are regulated by NF-kB and disease states which are associated with constitutive activation of the NF-kB pathway. Strategies to prevent prolonged activation of the NF-kB pathway are also discussed.

Keywords: NF-kB, Pathogenesis, apoptosis, NF-kB proteins, including interleukin 1b (IL-1b), tumor necrosis factor(TNFa), nitric oxide synthase(iNOS), oxide (NO), cyclo-oxygenase (COX-2), (cIAP1, cIAP2, IXAP)