Hormonal regulation of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway

The NF-kappaB transcription factor modulates a number of gene responses to hormonal stimuli. NF-kappaB can be induced by growth promoting hormones and cytokines, has been shown to counteract the effectiveness of steroid hormones and has recently been found to be regulated during mammalian spermatogenesis. Recent advances in the characterization of the NF-kappaB signaling pathway offer new opportunities to examine how hormonal stimuli regulate NF-kappaB mediated gene expression. In this mini-review we outline the signal pathways responsible for activating NF-kappaB, discuss the hormonal regulation of NF-kappaB and the regulation of hormonal responses by NF-kappaB, as well as summarize new studies characterizing NF-kappaB expression and activity in the mammalian testis.