Ahn Kwang Seok, Aggarwal Bharat B
Cytokine Research Laboratory, Department of Experimental Therapeutics, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2005 Nov;1056:218-33. doi: 10.1196/annals.1352.026.
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.
核因子-κB（NF-κB）是一种转录因子，存在于每个细胞的细胞质中，激活后会转移至细胞核。其激活可由多种因素诱导，包括应激、香烟烟雾、病毒、细菌、炎症刺激、细胞因子、自由基、致癌物、肿瘤促进剂和内毒素。激活后，NF-κB可调节近400种不同基因的表达，这些基因包括酶（如COX-2、5-脂氧合酶和诱导型一氧化氮合酶）、细胞因子（如肿瘤坏死因子、白细胞介素-1、白细胞介素-6、白细胞介素-8和趋化因子）、黏附分子、细胞周期调节分子、病毒蛋白和血管生成因子。NF-κB的组成性激活与多种人类疾病有关，包括哮喘、动脉粥样硬化、艾滋病、类风湿性关节炎、糖尿病、骨质疏松症、阿尔茨海默病和癌症。已知几种物质可抑制NF-κB激活，包括Th2细胞因子（白细胞介素-4、白细胞介素-13和白细胞介素-10）、干扰素、内分泌激素（促黄体生成素、人绒毛膜促性腺激素、促黑素和生长激素）、植物化学物质、皮质类固醇和免疫抑制剂。由于NF-κB与不同应激信号的紧密联系，它被称为身体的“烟雾传感器”。
