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The NF-κB signaling pathway: an important therapeutic target in psychiatric disorders

Molecular Psychiatry volume 23, pages 490–491 (2018)Cite this article

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A growing body of evidence has moved the scientific community to view inflammation as one of the key processes that might improve understanding of the pathoetiology of major psychiatric disorders. A recent transdiagnostic meta-analysis by Goldsmith et al.1 showed that levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R) and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) were significantly increased in acutely ill patients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder (BD) and major depressive disorder (MDD). Also, following treatment, IL-6 levels decreased in both schizophrenia and MDD, IL-1RA levels decreased in BD and sIL-2R levels increased in schizophrenia. IL-1β, IL-6 and sIL-2R were significantly increased in chronic patients with schizophrenia and euthymic BD. Lastly, IL-6 levels were elevated in patients with chronic MDD. The authors astutely point out that the mediators elevated during acute and chronic illness, and reduced with treatment, are under the control of the nuclear kappa factor B (NF-κB) signaling pathway.1 The potential therapeutic importance of the NF-κB signaling pathway in psychiatric disorders merits more attention.

NF-κB is an important transcription factor that regulates a wide range of cellular processes and signaling pathways.2 For instance, canonical NF-κB activation engenders expression of about 150 genes of crucial importance in cellular physiology.3 An activated NF-κB pathway, interacting with the Janus kinase-2 pathway, may promote neuroprotection by upregulating proteins such as XIAP and c-IAP2, that enhance resistance to apoptosis.4 Also, when overactivated, NF-κB can auto-induce its production via increased proinflammatory cytokines and induce an infinite loop inflammatory state.5

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Immunology, Experimental Medicine Research Institute, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey

    M A Altinoz

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Bakirkoy Education and Research Hospital for Psychiatry, Istanbul, Turkey

    B Ince

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA

    C Tek, V H Srihari & S Guloksuz

  4. Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    S Guloksuz

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  1. M A Altinoz
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  2. B Ince
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Correspondence to S Guloksuz.

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Altinoz, M., Ince, B., Tek, C. et al. The NF-κB signaling pathway: an important therapeutic target in psychiatric disorders. Mol Psychiatry 23, 490–491 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/mp.2016.207

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