Role of NF-κB in immune and inflammatory responses in the gut

Abstract

NF-κB is a pleiotropic transcription factor with key functions in the intestinal immune system. NF-κB family members control transcriptional activity of various promoters of proinflammatory cytokines, cell surface receptors, transcription factors, and adhesion molecules that are involved in intestinal inflammation. The perpetuated activation of NF-κB in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease suggests that regulation of NF-κB activity is a very attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Such strategies include antioxidants, proteasome inhibitors, inhibition of NF-κB by adenoviral IκBα expression vectors, and antisense DNA targeting of NF- κB. These approaches will hopefully permit the design of new treatment strategies for chronic intestinal inflammation.