New Insights into NF-κB Signaling in Innate Immunity: Focus on Immunometabolic Crosstalks

Abstract

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) is a family of transcription factors that, beyond their numberless functions in various cell processes, play a pivotal role in regulating immune cell activation. Two main pathways—canonical and non-canonical—are responsible for NF-κB activation and heterodimer translocation into the nucleus. A complex crosstalk between NF-κB signaling and metabolism is emerging in innate immunity. Metabolic enzymes and metabolites regulate NF-κB activity in many cases through post-translational modifications such as acetylation and phosphorylation. On the other hand, NF-κB affects immunometabolic pathways, including the citrate pathway, thereby building an intricate network. In this review, the emerging findings about NF-κB function in innate immunity and the interplay between NF-κB and immunometabolism have been discussed. These outcomes allow for a deeper comprehension of the molecular mechanisms underlying NF-κB function in innate immune cells. Moreover, the new insights are important in order to perceive NF-κB signaling as a potential therapeutic target for inflammatory/immune chronic diseases.

Keywords

• NF-κB
• innate immunity
• macrophages
• immunometabolism
• gene expression