[NF-kappaB as a therapeutic target of rheumatoid arthritis]

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) is an inducible transcription factor that is activated through intracellular signal transduction pathways. Its target genes include those that are responsible for immuno-inflammatory responses, apoptosis inhibitors, growth promoting factors, virus-encoded proteins involved in viral replication, and self-regulatory proteins for NF-kappaB actions. Thus, it has been reported that NF-kappaB plays major roles in the pathogenesis of cancer, leukemia, autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, and AIDS. On the other hand, it has been revealed that some drugs that are effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis have actually inhibitory activities of NF-kappaB actions. In this review, we have attempted to analyze various pathological steps of rheumatoid arthritis especially by depicting the steps that involve NF-kappaB. We also discuss possible therapeutic strategies with NF-kappaB as a major target.