NF-kappa B as a therapeutic target in neurodegenerative diseases.
NF-kappaB is a transcription factor that regulates numerous physiological functions, and that is involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases. In the nervous system there is evidence supporting a dual role of NF-kappaB in neurodegenerative diseases; activation of NF-kappaB in neurons promotes their survival, whereas activation in glial and immune cells mediates pathological inflammatory processes. The reason for such a dichotomy lies in the complexity of the NF-kappaB system. Emerging research has begun to dissect the pathways leading to the activation of the different NF-kappaB proteins, and the gene targets of NF-kappaB, in cells of the nervous system. In this article the authors discuss recent findings concerning the roles of NF-kappaB in the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative disorders, and its potential as a pharmaceutical target for these disorders.
Camandola
Simonetta
S
Laboratory of Neurosciences, National Institute onAging, Intramural Research Program, 5600 Nathan Shock Drive, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. camandolasi@grc.nia.nih.gov
Mattson
Mark P
MP
D000818:Animals; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D016503:Drug Delivery Systems / Q000379:methods*; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
D016328:NF-kappa B