Cardiac role of the transcription factor NF-kappaB.
The signaling pathways that control the life-death switch of a cell are of primary interest in modern biology. In this respect, NF-kappaB has emerged as a decisive transcription factor in the cell's response to apoptotic challenge and its effects on apoptosis have far-reaching consequences for normal development and/or homeostasis in many cells and tissues, including the immune system, hair follicles, and epidermal appendages, liver, nervous system and recently in heart . In this review we analyze the pivotal role of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in the normal functioning of the cardiac cell and its implication in common cardiac pathologies, such as ischemia-reperfusion injury, ischemic precondition, hypertrophy, atherosclerosis and cardiac arrest. While NF-kappaB is usually cytoprotective, it can also be pro-apoptotic depending on the inducing stimulus and the cellular context. Significant progress has been made in elucidating NF-kappaB's mode of action and its interplay with other key factors. These studies identified some anti- and pro-apoptotic NF-kappaB regulated genes that mediate its activity. These important new insights fuel hope that novel approaches will be developed to control the effects of NF-kappaB in cardiac pathologies.
Escuela de Medicina, Laboratorio de Biología Molecular Universidad Panamericana, México.
Salomón Hernández
SH
Gutiérrez
Manuel Ramos
MR
Kuri
Emilio Rojas
ER
del Castillo
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction
D016328:NF-kappa B