Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

NF-κB

  • Reference work entry
  • First Online:
Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology

  • 381 Accesses

Synonyms

c-Rel; NF-κB2 (p52 and its precursor p100); Nuclear factor κB; NF-κB1 (p50 and its precursor p105); RelA (p65); RelB

Definition

NF-κB is a dimeric transcription factor complex active throughout all cell types. It is present in the cytoplasm in an inactive state, can rapidly be activated in response to various stimuli, and subsequently translocates to the nucleus. NF-κB has a pivotal role in the control of proliferation and apoptosis. Increased NF-κB activity has been shown to contribute to tumorigenesis. Furthermore, it has important functions in both innate and adaptive immune responses.

The NF-κB Transcription Factors

The NF-κB activity was identified more than 25 years ago by defining a nuclear factor that binds DNA sequences in the immunoglobulin κ-light chain region in activated B cells (Sen and Baltimore 1986). This factor was shown to be preexisting in an inactive state in cells and was readily activated by a variety of stimuli. There are five NF-κB family members,...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 799.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 949.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  • Beinke S, Ley SC. Functions of NF-kappaB1 and NF-kappaB2 in immune cell biology. Biochem J. 2004;382(Pt 2):393–409.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Bours V, Franzoso G, Azarenko V, Park S, Kanno T, Brown K, et al. The oncoprotein Bcl-3 directly transactivates through kappa B motifs via association with DNA-binding p50B homodimers. Cell. 1993;72(5):729–39.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Didonato JA, Mercurio F, Karin M. NF-kappaB and the link between inflammation and cancer. Immunol Rev. 2012;246(1):379–400.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Fujita T, Nolan GP, Liou HC, Scott ML, Baltimore D. The candidate proto-oncogene bcl-3 encodes a transcriptional coactivator that activates through NF-kappa B p50 homodimers. Genes Dev. 1993;7(7B):1354–63.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerondakis S, Siebenlist U. Roles of the NF-kappaB pathway in lymphocyte development and function. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2010;2(5):a000182.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Ghosh G, Wang VY, Huang DB, Fusco A. NF-kappaB regulation: lessons from structures. Immunol Rev. 2012;246(1):36–58.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gilmore TD. The Re1/NF-kappa B/I kappa B signal transduction pathway and cancer. Cancer Treat Res. 2003;115:241–65.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hayden MS, Ghosh S. NF-kappaB in immunobiology. Cell Res. 2011;21(2):223–44.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hayden MS, Ghosh S. NF-kappaB, the first quarter-century: remarkable progress and outstanding questions. Genes Dev. 2012;26(3):203–34.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Heissmeyer V, Krappmann D, Wulczyn FG, Scheidereit C. NF-kappaB p105 is a target of IkappaB kinases and controls signal induction of Bcl-3-p50 complexes. EMBO J. 1999;18(17):4766–78.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Heissmeyer V, Krappmann D, Hatada EN, Scheidereit C. Shared pathways of IkappaB kinase-induced SCF(betaTrCP)-mediated ubiquitination and degradation for the NF-kappaB precursor p105 and IkappaBalpha. Mol Cell Biol. 2001;21(4):1024–35.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hinz M, Arslan SC, Scheidereit C. It takes two to tango: IkappaBs, the multifunctional partners of NF-kappaB. Immunol Rev. 2012;246(1):59–76.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hu H, Wu X, Jin W, Chang M, Cheng X, Sun SC. Noncanonical NF-kappaB regulates inducible costimulator (ICOS) ligand expression and T follicular helper cell development. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2011;108(31):12827–32.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hwang ES, Hong JH, Glimcher LH. IL-2 production in developing Th1 cells is regulated by heterodimerization of RelA and T-bet and requires T-bet serine residue 508. J Exp Med. 2005;202(9):1289–300.

    PubMed  CAS  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kaileh M, Sen R. NF-kappaB function in B lymphocytes. Immunol Rev. 2012;246(1):254–71.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neri A, Chang CC, Lombardi L, Salina M, Corradini P, Maiolo AT, et al. B cell lymphoma-associated chromosomal translocation involves candidate oncogene lyt-10, homologous to NF-kappa B p50. Cell. 1991;67(6):1075–87.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sen R, Baltimore D. Multiple nuclear factors interact with the immunoglobulin enhancer sequences. Cell. 1986;46(5):705–16.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Staudt LM. Oncogenic activation of NF-kappaB. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2010;2(6):a000109.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Sun SC. The noncanonical NF-kappaB pathway. Immunol Rev. 2012;246(1):125–40.

    PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Vallabhapurapu S, Karin M. Regulation and function of NF-kappaB transcription factors in the immune system. Annu Rev Immunol. 2009;27:693–733.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Molecular Immunology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Marchioninistr. 25, Munich, 81377, Germany

    Stephanie Edelmann & Vigo Heissmeyer

Authors
  1. Stephanie Edelmann
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Vigo Heissmeyer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Stephanie Edelmann .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia

    Ian R. Mackay

  2. Center for Autoimmune Disease Research, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Noel R. Rose

  3. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Betty Diamond

  4. The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY, USA

    Anne Davidson

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this entry

Cite this entry

Edelmann, S., Heissmeyer, V. (2014). NF-κB. In: Mackay, I.R., Rose, N.R., Diamond, B., Davidson, A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Medical Immunology. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84828-0_42

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-84828-0_42

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-84827-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-84828-0

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation