Acta Pharmacologica Sinica 2007 December; 28 (12): 1859-1872; doi: 10.1111/j.1745-7254.2007.00741.x

NF-κB is a well-characterized transcription factor with multiple physiological and pathological functions. NF-κB plays important roles in the development and maturation of lymphoids, regulation of immune and inflammatory response, and cell death and survival. The influence of NF-κB on cell survival could be protective or destructive, depending on types, developmental stages of cells, and pathological conditions. The complexity of NF-κB in cell death and survival derives from its multiple roles in regulating the expression of a broad array of genes involved in promoting cell death and survival. The activation of NF-κB has been found in many neurological disorders, but its actual roles in pathogenesis are still being debated. Many compounds with neuroprotective actions are strongly associated with the inhibition of NF-κB, leading to speculation that blocking the pathological activation of NF-κB could offer neuroprotective effects in certain neurodegenerative conditions. This paper reviews the recent developments in understanding the dual roles of NF-κB in cell death and survival and explores its possible usefulness in treating neurological diseases. This paper will summarize the genes regulated by NF-κB that are involved in cell death and survival to elucidate why NF-κB promotes cell survival in some conditions while facilitating cell death in other conditions. This paper will also focus on the effects of various NF-κB inhibitors on neuroprotection in certain pathological conditions to speculate if NF-κB is a potential target for neuroprotective therapy.

Keywords: NF-κB; transcription factor; apoptosis; neuroprotection; neurodegeneration