INHIBITION OF TNF-INDUCED APOPTOSIS BY NF-KAPPA-B

Tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is an inflammatory cytokine possessing a unique property: it can induce cells to undergo apoptosis. The sensiti vity of different cell types to TNF-induced apoptosis can vary dramati cally, but most cells become very sensitive upon simultaneous treatmen t with inhibitors of protein synthesis. It has been suggested therefor e that a gene, or set of genes, is induced upon TNF receptor activatio n that downregulates the apoptosis signal. Recent results have shown t hat NF-kappa B, a transcription factor activated upon TNF signalling, is at least partly responsible for this effect. These findings have br oadened the role of NF-kappa B from that of a regulator of immune and inflammatory responses to include an involvement in the regulation of apoptosis.