Crucial Roles of NF-κB for T Cell Activation

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) is one of the most important transcription factors for survival, activation, and proliferation of immune cells. Main pathway of NF-κB for T cell activation is known to be NF-κB1/RelA classical pathway. Meanwhile, the role of NF-κB2/Re1B non-classical pathway is still unclear. A number of reports as to knockout mice for NF-κB subunits can lead to understand in vivo functions of NFκB. Moreover, some autoimmune models have been described in knockout and mutant mice of NF-κB genes and NF-κB-associated genes. Thus, NF-κB might be one of potent factors for pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases. This article reviews each function of NF-κB subunits as to immune system, mainly T cell activation based on our recent study and previous published studies.