Review Role of NF-êB in immune and inflammatory responses in the gut

NF-êB is a pleiotropic transcription factor with key functions in the intestinal immune system. NF-êB family members control transcriptional activity of various promoters of proinflammatory cytokines, cell surface receptors, transcription factors, and adhesion molecules that are involved in intestinal inflammation. The perpetuated activation of NF-êB in patients with active inflammatory bowel disease suggests that regulation of NF-êB activity is a very attractive target for therapeutic intervention. Such strategies include antioxidants, proteasome inhibitors, inhibition of NF-êB by adenoviral IêBá expression vectors, and antisense DNA targeting of NF-êB. These approaches will hopefully permit the design of new treatment strategies for chronic intestinal inflammation.