NF - κ B in neuronal plasticity and neurodegenerative disorders

NF-κB is widely known for its ubiquitous roles in inflammation and immune responses, as well as in control of cell division and apoptosis. These roles are apparent in the nervous system, but neurons and their neighboring cells employ the NF-κB pathway for distinctive functions as well, ranging from development to the coordination of cellular responses to injury of the nervous system and to brain-specific processes such as the synaptic signaling that underlies learning and memory. Here we discuss the regulation of NF-κB activity by neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors and the physiological and pathological effects of NF-κB activation in neurons and glial cells. Based on work in animal models, it appears that manipulation of NF-κB signaling may prove valuable in treating such conditions as ischemic stroke, physical trauma to the brain or spinal cord, and neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease.