Role of NF-kappaB Pathway in Inflammation and Infection

Dear Colleagues,

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway comprises a family of inducible transcription factors that serve as central regulators in essential physiological processes, such as cell growth, apoptosis, and innate and adaptive immune response by modulating the expression of hundreds of genes encoding multiple cytokines and chemokines, their receptors, molecules involved in immune recognition, antigen presentation, cell adhesion, and migration.

Chronical activation of the NF-κB pathway is involved in the pathogenesis of numerous chronic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease. Importantly, aging is also associated with increased NF-κB activation. In addition, NF-κB plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of various acute situations, such as sepsis, acute respiratory syndrome, and reactivity to CAR-T cell therapy triggering pro-inflammatory cytokine release and pro-coagulation activation.

Furthermore, NF-κB is known to play a central role in various highly pathogenic bacterial and viral infections, including Ebola, Dengue virus, highly pathogenic Influenza A, and SARS-CoV. Recent studies indicate that NF-κB may also be central to the immune hyper-activation and cytokine/chemokine storm observed during acute stage COVID-19.

Altogether, these data indicate that the NF-κB pathway may be highly relevant in the immune pathological mechanisms of infectious as well as non-infectious diseases and a promising target for pharmacological intervention and treatment.

The scope of this Special Issue is to summarize and enlarge knowledge in the NF-κB pathway and its involvement in inflammation and infection.

Topics include but are not limited to:

• New aspects of NF-κB signaling pathways and their correlation to the pathophysiology of non-infectious diseases;
• New aspects of NF-κB signaling pathways and their correlation to immunology and pathophysiology of bacterial and viral infectious diseases;
• Translational research, pharmacological and medical interventions with the NF-κB pathway as a therapeutic target for bacterial and viral infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

Dr. Ralf Kircheis
Guest Editor

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