title: Transcription factor NF-kappaB: a sensor for smoke and stress signals.
abstract: Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) is a transcription factor that resides in the cytoplasm of every cell and translocates to the nucleus when activated. Its activation is induced by a wide variety of agents including stress, cigarette smoke, viruses, bacteria, inflammatory stimuli, cytokines, free radicals, carcinogens, tumor promoters, and endotoxins. On activation, NF-kappaB regulates the expression of almost 400 different genes, which include enzymes (e.g., COX-2, 5-LOX, and iNOS), cytokines (such as TNF, IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, and chemokines), adhesion molecules, cell cycle regulatory molecules, viral proteins, and angiogenic factors. The constitutive activation of NF-kappaB has been linked with a wide variety of human diseases, including asthma, atherosclerosis, AIDS, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, osteoporosis, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. Several agents are known to suppress NF-kappaB activation, including Th2 cytokines (IL-4, IL-13, and IL-10), interferons, endocrine hormones (LH, HCG, MSH, and GH), phytochemicals, corticosteroids, and immunosuppressive agents. Because of the strong link of NF-kappaB with different stress signals, it has been called a "smoke-sensor" of the body.
authors.affiliation: Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Kwang Seok
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Bharat B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
mesh_terms: D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains / Q000378:metabolism; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007145:Immunoglobulin kappa-Chains; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014157:Transcription Factors