AUTHOR=Leibowitz Saskia M. , Yan Jun TITLE=NF-κB Pathways in the Pathogenesis of Multiple Sclerosis and the Therapeutic Implications JOURNAL=Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience VOLUME=9 YEAR=2016 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/molecular-neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnmol.2016.00084 DOI=10.3389/fnmol.2016.00084 ISSN=1662-5099 ABSTRACT=

Nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) signaling pathways are involved in cell immune responses, apoptosis and infections. In multiple sclerosis (MS), NF-κB pathways are changed, leading to increased levels of NF-κB activation in cells. This may indicate a key role for NF-κB in MS pathogenesis. NF-κB signaling is complex, with many elements involved in its activation and regulation. Interestingly, current MS treatments are found to be directly or indirectly linked to NF-κB pathways and act to adjust the innate and adaptive immune system in patients. In this review, we will first focus on the intricacies of NF-κB signaling, including the activating pathways and regulatory elements. Next, we will theorize about the role of NF-κB in MS pathogenesis, based on current research findings, and discuss some of the associated therapeutic implications. Lastly, we will review four new MS treatments which interrupt NF-κB pathways—fingolimod, teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate (DMF) and laquinimod (LAQ)—and explain their mechanisms, and the possible strategy for MS treatments in the future.