Regulation of neural process growth, elaboration and structural plasticity by NF-κB

The nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) family of transcription factors has recently emerged as a major regulator of the growth and elaboration of neural processes. NF-kappa B signaling has been implicated in controlling axon initiation, elongation, guidance and branching and in regulating dendrite arbor size and complexity during development and dendritic spine density in the adult. NF-kappa B is activated by a variety of extracellular signals, and either promotes or inhibits growth depending on the phosphorylation status of the p65 NF-kappa B subunit. These novel roles for NF-kappa B, together with recent evidence implicating NF-kappa B in the regulation of neurogenesis in the embryo and adult, have important implications for neural development and for learning and memory in the mature nervous system.