OptimalHealthNutrition.com -- NFKB

NFKB

Research News: Nuclear transcription factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) is one of several transcription factors which act as “facilitators” for the elaboration and amplification of specific gene products. In the case of NF-kappaB, most of the genes that appear to be influenced are those that increase the production of pro-inflammatory mediators such as IL-2 (which increases production of collagen-digesting proteases), IL-6 (which then increases production of C-reactive protein), cyclooxygenase-2 (which then increases production of prostaglandins), lipoxygenase (which produces leukotrienes), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (for the production of nitric oxide), etc. Inhibition of NF-kappaB is increasingly considered a major therapeutic goal in the treatment and prevention of a wide range of illnesses, including cancer, arthritis, autoimmune diseases, neurologic illnesses such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, and other “inflammatory” diseases.[1] [2] While we as holistic clinicians work to address the underlying cause of the problem in a given patient, I believe that some degree of “suppression” of NF-kappaB is therapeutically appropriate for at least two reasons: 1) it helps to limit tissue damage and to improve patient outcomes, and 2) suppression of NF-kappaB helps to break the vicious cycle of positive feedback wherein inflammation promotes more inflammation by the NF-kappaB stimulating effect of several of the products of NF-kappaB activation: NF-kappaB increases the production of IL-1, PG-E2, oxidative stress, TNF-a, and CRP—all of which work additively and synergistically to increase activation of NF-kappaB. Therefore, regardless of the underlying cause, which may have already been addressed and eradicated, it is conceivable that some patients will suffer from inflammatory disorders simply because of the positive feedback that mediators have on the activation of NF-kappaB, which then promotes more inflammation.

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[1] D'Acquisto F, May MJ, Ghosh S. Inhibition of Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NF-B): An Emerging Theme in Anti-Inflammatory Therapies. Mol Interv. 2002 Feb;2(1):22-35 http://molinterv.aspetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/2/1/22

[2] Tak PP, Firestein GS. NF-kappaB: a key role in inflammatory diseases. J Clin Invest. 2001 Jan;107(1):7-11 http://www.jci.org/cgi/content/full/107/1/7

Dr Vasquez's Comments: This is an excerpt from my textbook "Chiropractic and Naturopathic Mastery of Common Clinical Disorders" which is available from OptimalHealthResearch.com (website with clinical information designed for doctors) and also from OptimalHealthNutrition.com in our selection of books.

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