1. ¹Division of Gene Regulation and Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, MSI/WTB Complex, Dow Street, Dundee, Scotland DD1 5EH, UK
2. ²Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA

Correspondence: ND Perkins, Division of Gene Regulation and Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, MSI/WTB Complex, Dow Street, Dundee, Scotland DD1 5EH, UK. Tel: +44 1382 385 606; Fax: +44 1382 348 072; E-mail: n.d.perkins@dundee.ac.uk

Received 29 September 2005; Revised 8 November 2005; Accepted 9 November 2005; Published online 13 January 2006.

Abstract

Complexes formed from the nuclear factor B (NF-B) family of transcription factors are ubiquitously expressed and are induced by a diverse array of stimuli. This results in their becoming activated in a wide variety of different settings. While the functions of NF-B in many of these contexts have been the subject of intense research and are now well established, it is also clear that there is great diversity in the effects and consequences of NF-B activation. NF-B subunits do not necessarily regulate the same genes, in an identical manner, in all of the different circumstances in which they are induced. This review will discuss the different functions of NF-B, the pathways that modulate NF-B subunit activity and, in contrast to its more commonly thought of role as a promoter of cancer cell growth and survival, the ability of NF-B, under some circumstances, to behave as a tumor suppressor.