NF-kappaB and the Immune System

NF-κB (nuclear factor of κB site binding) proteins are an evolutionarily conserved family of inducible transcription factors that control the expression of a large number of genes with important developmental and effector functions in a variety of immune cells. Mice with genetic knockouts of individual genes encoding NF-κB proteins have distinct immune cell defects. Moreover, impaired regulation of NF-κB is found in many human immune diseases. For example, NF-κB is constitutively active in many chronic inflammatory diseases and leukemias/lymphomas, while depressed NF-κB activity is seen in some human immunodeficiencies. Thus, NF-κB is viewed as a therapeutic target for many immune cell diseases.