Nuclear Factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) is a crucial transcription factor involved in various cellular processes, including inflammation, cell survival, and oxidative stress responses. Under hypoxic conditions, NF-κB activation can lead to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which play a dual role in cellular signaling and damage.
NF-κB is activated in response to various stimuli, including hypoxia, and regulates the expression of genes involved in ROS production. The regulation of ROS by NF-κB varies significantly across different cell types:
In macrophages, NF-κB activation under hypoxia enhances ROS production, which is essential for their bactericidal activity. Studies have shown that hypoxia-induced NF-κB activation leads to increased expression of NADPH oxidase (NOX) enzymes, which are responsible for ROS generation. For instance, the study by Wang et al. (2024) demonstrated that mature silkworm extracts modulated NF-κB signaling, reducing inflammation and ROS levels in macrophages exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (p < 0.0001).
In endothelial cells, hypoxia-induced NF-κB activation has been linked to increased apoptosis through ROS generation. The study by Huang et al. (2000) found that NF-κB mediates hypoxia-induced apoptosis by suppressing anti-apoptotic factors like Bcl-2, leading to increased ROS levels and cell death.
Cancer cells exhibit a complex relationship between NF-κB and ROS under hypoxic conditions. For example, in HeLa cells, NF-κB activation under hypoxia was shown to regulate genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation and ROS generation, which can promote survival in low-oxygen environments. The research by Smith et al. (2025) highlighted that NF-κB is critical for the expression of hypoxia-inducible genes, suggesting a protective role against oxidative stress.
In cardiomyocytes, NF-κB activation under hypoxia has been associated with increased inflammatory responses and ROS production. The study by Zhang et al. (2019) indicated that S100A1 regulates the TLR4/ROS/NF-κB pathway, enhancing inflammatory cytokine production and ROS levels in response to hypoxia.
The regulation of ROS generation by NF-κB under hypoxia varies significantly across different cell types, influencing their survival, inflammatory responses, and overall cellular function. Understanding these differences is crucial for developing targeted therapies for conditions associated with hypoxia and oxidative stress.
import pandas as pd import seaborn as sns import matplotlib.pyplot as plt def analyze_ros_genes(data): # Load data df = pd.read_csv(data) # Filter for NF-κB target genes nfkb_genes = df[df['Gene'].str.contains('NF-kB')] # Plot gene expression levels plt.figure(figsize=(10,6)) sns.boxplot(x='Cell_Type', y='Expression_Level', data=nfkb_genes) plt.title('NF-κB Target Gene Expression in Different Cell Types under Hypoxia') plt.show()