NF-κB (nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells) is a protein complex that reads and copies the DNA (a transcription factor) (R).
NF-kB is the single most important factor in causing inflammation in the body and virtually all popular herbs inhibit this protein complex (in many/most cells of the body). Other proteins that are very popular in the literature are the cytokines TNF, IL-1, and IL-6, but NF-kB largely controls the production of these and other cytokines.
NF-κB is activated in response to stress, cytokines (like IL-1b (R) and TNF), free radicals, ultraviolet irradiation, oxidized LDL, and bacterial or viral infections, cocaine, and ionizing radiation (R). See a full list below. With cytokines, the effect is bi-directional, as it induces cytokines and is induced by cytokines.
Oxidative stress/ROS/Free radicals is an important inducer of NF-KB.
NF-κB plays a key role in regulating the immune response to infection. Chronic activation of NF-κB has been linked to cancer, inflammatory, and autoimmune diseases. Too little activation leads to susceptibility to viral infection and improper immune development (R).
NF-κB is a “rapid-acting” transcription factor, which means that it is present in cells in an inactive state and does not require new protein synthesis in order to become activated (other members of this family include transcription factors such as c-Jun, STATs, and nuclear hormone receptors). This allows NF-κB to be a first responder to harmful cellular stimuli.
Many bacterial products and stimulation of a wide variety of cell-surface receptors lead to NF-κB activation and fairly rapid changes in gene expression. Pathogens activate NF-κB via Toll-like receptors (TLRs), which is important both innate and adaptive immune responses.
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