Necrotizing Enterocolitis
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Scientists at University of California publish new data on gastroenterology
2009 MAY 18 - (NewsRx.com) -- "Purpose of review Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) is a key transcriptional regulator of innate and adaptive immunity. This review highlights new insights into the functions of NF-kappa B in normal homeostasis and specific disease processes in the intestinal tract," scientists writing in the journal Current Opinion in Gastroenterology report. "Recent findings Inflammatory bowel disease and experimental intestinal inflammation are characterized by NF-kappa B activation and increased expression of proinflammatory NF-kappa B target genes. Accordingly, NF kappa B inhibition protects against chronic intestinal inflammation and necrotizing enterocolitis in animal models. However, recent findings suggest that NF-kappa B has not only proinflammatory but also tissue-protective functions. Thus, genetic ablation of the regulatory subunit, I kappa B kinase (IKK)gamma, of the central kinase complex required for NF-kappa B activation, IKK, or of both kinase subunits, IKK alpha and IKK beta, in intestinal epithelial cells causes spontaneous murine colitis. Pharmacological inhibition of IKK beta, and loss of IKK beta or NF-kappa B p65 in the epithelium, sensitizes mice to acute inflammatory and injurious challenges. Deficiency in Toll-like receptor 5, a strong activator of NF-kappa B, results in spontaneous colitis and exacerbates mucosal inflammatory responses to Salmonella infection. Conversely, Toll-like receptor 5 stimulation confers radioprotection in the intestine. NF-kappa B has multiple, often opposing functions in the intestine," wrote M.E. Spehlmann and colleagues, University of California. The researchers concluded: "Antiapoptotic actions of NF-kappa B in intestinal epithelial cells dominate tissue responses to many acute inflammatory and injurious challenges, whereas proinflammatory and cell survival functions of NF-kappa B in macrophages and T cells govern chronic intestinal inflammation." Spehlmann and colleagues published their study in Current Opinion in Gastroenterology (Nuclear factor-kappa B in Intestinal protection and destruction. Current Opinion in Gastroenterology, 2009;25(2):92-99). Additional information can be obtained by contacting L. Eckmann, University of California, Dept. of Medical, 9500 Gilman Dr., La Jolla, CA 92093, USA. The publisher of the journal Current Opinion in Gastroenterology can be contacted at: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 530 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA 19106-3621, USA. Keywords: United States, La Jolla, Apoptosis, Gastroenterology, Immunology, Inflammation, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Necrotizing Enterocolitis, University of California. This article was prepared by Gastroenterology Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Gastroenterology Week via NewsRx.com.
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