NF-kappa B and the innate immune response

In the innate immune reaction, microbial pathogens activate phylogeneticall y conserved cellular signal transduction pathways that regulate the ubiquit ous nuclear factor-kappa B (NF kappa B). NF-kappa B has pleiotropic functio ns in immunity; however, it is also critical for development and cellular s urvival. Many aspects of how the different pathways utilize a common kinase complex that ultimately activates NF-kappa B have been clarified by gene i nactivation and biochemical analysis.