Is nuclear factor-kappa B a good treatment target in brain ischemia/reperfusion injury?

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is a transcription factor which resides in its unactivated form in the cytoplasm. Following activation subsequent to cerebral ischemia and reperfusion injury, NF-kappa B acts on genes for c ytokines, adhesion molecules, nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2, meta lloproteinase-9, and perhaps apoptotic genes. These genes have a variety of positive and negative influences on the outcome of brain injury. The effec t of manipulation of NF-kappa B needs to be examined critically, as it pert ains to these reactive genes. NeuroReport 11:R1-R4 (C) 2000 Lippincott Will iams & Wilkins.