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NF-κB

Meaning

Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is a protein complex that functions as a critical transcription factor, meaning it controls the rate of transcription of genetic information from DNA to messenger RNA. It is often described as the master regulator of the inflammatory and immune responses, rapidly inducing the expression of numerous genes involved in cytokine production, cell survival, and cellular stress responses. Chronic activation of NF-κB is a central mechanism in persistent, low-grade systemic inflammation.