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Transcription factors are small proteins which specifically regulate the expression of genes. A pivotal step in transcriptional regulation is the physical binding of these regulatory proteins to DNA sites in gene promoter regions. Binding specificity is determined by the nucleotide sequence of the binding site. Nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was defined by its ability to bind to a 10 base pair oligonucleotide motif first identified in the enhancer region of the immunoglobulin κ light chain gene. NF-κB, which has recently been shown to regulate most inflammation genes, was originally described as a heterodimeric complex of two subunits, p65 and p50.1 ,2

Proteins of the NF-κB family are found constitutively in the cytoplasm of most mammalian cells. In resting cells, they are sequestered in the cytoplasm by inactivating molecules which are mainly members of the inhibitor κB family (IκB).1 ,2Activation of NF-κB requires release of the molecule …