NF-kappaB p50/RelA and c-Rel-containing dimers: opposite regulators of neuron vulnerability to ischaemia.

Nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kB) 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.