Tumor promoting or tumor suppressing of NF-kappa B, a matter of cell context dependency

Int Rev Immunol. 2008;27(4):183-204. doi: 10.1080/08830180802130327.

Abstract

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) and its activating signaling pathways are critical regulators for cell lineage development, growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and tumorigenic transformation. As one of the most important transcription factors, NF-kappa B has been implicated in the transcriptional upregulation of a number of cytokines, adhesion molecules, growth factors, oncogenes, antiapoptotic proteins, some proapoptotic factors, and even certain viral genes. The role of NF-kappa B on tumor promoting has been well-documented in the past two decades. However, during the past few years, a considerable number of studies suggested that NF-kappa B and its activating signaling molecules may act as tumor suppressors under some circumstances. Thus, it is highly possible that tumor promoting or tumor suppressing of NF-kappa B signaling is determined by the type of cells, stimuli, simultaneous or asynchronous intracellular signals, and other cellular contexts.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / genetics*
  • Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / immunology*
  • DNA Methylation
  • Epigenesis, Genetic
  • Free Radical Scavengers / immunology
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / genetics
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / immunology
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / pathology
  • Humans
  • Liver Neoplasms / genetics
  • Liver Neoplasms / immunology
  • Liver Neoplasms / pathology
  • NF-kappa B / genetics*
  • NF-kappa B / immunology*
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / genetics
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / immunology
  • Neoplasms, Experimental / pathology
  • Oxidative Stress / genetics
  • Oxidative Stress / immunology
  • Signal Transduction / genetics
  • Signal Transduction / immunology*
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins / immunology*

Substances

  • Free Radical Scavengers
  • NF-kappa B
  • Tumor Suppressor Proteins