Abstract:  The abnormal changes in the apoptosis activities are relevant to a number of diseases including the tumor genesis and development. Since the gene structure of NF-κB being cloned three decades ago, the investigation of the transcriptional factor has been improved over time. A series of target genes are revealed to be modulated, which participate in physiological and pathological activities, including inflammation, proliferation, differentiation, senescence, and apoptosis. This review is focused on the signaling network of cell apoptosis regulated by NF-κB, the molecular involved, as well as the environmental variants associated. Furthermore, as NF-κB is unusually up-regulated in diseases such as cancer, searching for its specific antagonists may prevent the occurrence of those diseases.

Key words: NF-κB, apoptosis, signal conduction