Nuclear factor-κB: a transcription factor for all seasons

Abstract

NF-κB, first discovered in 1986 in the nucleus of B cells as an immunoglobulin-κ light chain enhancer, is today known as a transcription factor that is ubiquitously present in all cell types (not just B cells). It is conserved from drosophila to man, resides in the cytoplasm (not nucleus) in the resting state and binds to the promoter of > 400 different genes (not just immunoglobulin). Both NF-κB and TNF are essential components of the immune system, with their critical physiological role being in the immune defense.

Keywords::

• NF-κB
• TNF

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by a grant from the Clayton Foundation for Research, National Institutes of Health P01 grant CA91844 on lung chemoprevention.