Cross-talk between nuclear factor-κB and other signaling pathways / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

Transcription factor NF-κB has attracted attention due to its important role in the regulation of the expression of a number of cellular genes involved in host defense, inflammation/immune responses, cytokine and growth factor regulation, cell survival, proliferation, and also in embryonic development and programmed cell death. In this review, we provide an overview of established TNF-α, TLR/IL-1R, TCR and BCR signaling pathways to NF-κB, the alternative NF-κB pathway, and the regulation of NF-κB transcriptional activity. Furthermore, we discuss on emphasis the cross-talks between NF-κB and other signaling pathways (TGF-β, p53, nuclear receptor family, Ras/MEK/MAPK...), which are very complex and remain to be understood. The activation or inhibition of NF-κB has effect on other signaling pathways. They compose a complex signaling network, in which many regulatory signals integrate systematically and coordinate transcriptional responses to the stimulations. So when NF-κB is used as an important target of drugs in human diseases, the pathological and physiological functions of related signal pathways also should be understood sufficiently.