Post-ischemic brain damage: NF-kappaB dimer heterogeneity as a molecular determinant of neuron vulnerability

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NFkB) has been proposed to serve a dual function
as a regulator of neuron survival in pathological conditions associated
with neurodegeneration. NF-jB is a transcription family of factors comprising
five different proteins, namely p50, RelA ⁄ p65, c-Rel, RelB and p52,
which can combine differently to form active dimers in response to external
stimuli. Recent research shows that diverse NF-jB dimers lead to cell death
or cell survival in neurons exposed to ischemic injury. While the p50 ⁄ p65
dimer participates in the pathogenesis of post-ischemic injury by inducing
pro-apoptotic gene expression, c-Rel-containing dimers increase neuron
resistance to ischemia by inducing anti-apoptotic gene transcription. We
present, in this report, the latest findings and consider the therapeutic
potential of targeting different NF-kB dimers to limit ischemia-associated
neurodegeneration.