Roles of NF-κB in Autoimmunity

Autoimmune diseases are the result of improper and uncontrolled immune responses against self-antigens. The NF-κB/Rel family of transcription factors is known to play important roles in the initiation and regulation of immunity against pathogens and foreign antigens. Over time, evidence has accumulated implicating NF-κB as a mediator of autoimmunity and potential therapeutic target for treating autoimmune diseases. In this chapter, we discuss the role of NF-κB in apoptosis and cell proliferation as well as tolerance and autoimmunity.