Plant Derived Polyphenols, Other Drugs Targeting NF-кB and its Therapeutic Implications

Mohammad Younis Bhat, Samina F

Abstract

Nuclear factor - kappa B (NF-кB) consists of family transcription factors that play critical roles in inflammation, immunity, cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. The transcription factor NF-кB was discovered over 15 years ago, yet owing to its wide range of important cellular roles it remains an area of interest and current research. Discovered in the “B cell” white blood cell type, NF-кB is the nuclear factor for the к immunoglobin light chain in B cells. Since it was first observed, NF-кB has been found to play an active role in inflammatory responses, cellular growth and apoptosis as well as being present in diseases such as cancer, arthritis, asthma, chronic inflammation, neurodegenerative diseases and heart diseases. The extensive involvement of Rel/NF-кB transcription factors in human inflammation and disease establishes them as targets for therapeutics. There are over 800 compounds that have been shown to inhibit NF-кB signaling and thus, the physiological or the pharmacological utility of using any single compound for inhibition of NF-кB acting is a bit muddled. Nevertheless, knowledge of the molecular details of the pathway is enabling the development of more specific and potent inhibitors of NF-кB signaling, and indeed, some NF-кB signaling inhibitors are entering clinical trials.