NF-κB and the cell cycle

The NF-kappa B (nuclear factor kappa B) transcription factor family is a pleiotropic regulator of many cellular pathways, providing a mechanism for the cell to respond to a wide variety of stimuli and environmental challenges. It is not surprising therefore that an important component of NF-kappa B's function includes regulation of the cell cycle. However, this aspect of its behaviour is often overlooked and receives less attention than its ability to induce inflammatory gene expression. In the present article, we provide an updated review of the current state of our knowledge about integration of NF-kappa B activity with cell cycle regulation, including newly characterized direct and indirect target genes in addition to the mechanisms through which NF-kappa B itself can be regulated by the cell cycle.