NF-?B: a mediator that promotes or inhibits angiogenesis in human diseases?

The nuclear factor of ?-light chain of enhancer-activated B cells (NF-?B) signaling pathway, which is conserved in invertebrates, plays a significant role in human diseases such as inflammation-related diseases and carcinogenesis. Angiogenesis refers to the growth of new capillary vessels derived from already existing capillaries and postcapillary venules. Maintaining normal angiogenesis and effective vascular function is a prerequisite for the stability of organ tissue function, and abnormal angiogenesis often leads to a variety of diseases. It has been suggested that NK-?B signalling molecules under pathological conditions play an important role in vascular differentiation, proliferation, apoptosis and tumourigenesis by regulating the transcription of multiple target genes. Many NF-?B inhibitors are being tested in clinical trials for cancer treatment and their effect on angiogenesis is summarised. In this review, we will summarise the role of NF-?B signalling in various neovascular diseases, especially in tumours, and explore whether NF-?B can be used as an attack target or activation medium to inhibit tumour angiogenesis.