Exploring disease therapeutic strategies by modulating the TNF-/NF-KB signalling pathway

Abstract

In recent years, the number of patients with rheumatic diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis has been increasing, with over 3 million young people suffering from the disease. One main causal factor for these diseases is tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-a), a pro-inflammatory cytokine that triggers mutations and apoptosis of various cell types by activating multiple signalling pathways. NF-KB is an essential intracellular nuclear transcription factor that participates in the inflammatory and immune responses of the organism and regulates apoptosis and stress responses. Excessive activation of NF-KB has been linked to inflammatory changes in various human diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, cardiovascular diseases, etc. Therefore, inhibition of the NF-KB signalling pathway by drugs may become a therapeutic approach. Among multiple signalling pathways that induce inflammation, the TNF-/NF-KB signalling pathway is considered the most important. This review will discuss the relevant diseases for which modulation of the TNF-/NF-KB signalling pathway is the main therapeutic strategy. These strategies include targeted inhibition by blocking the TNF-a/NF-KB signalling pathway, modulation of inflammatory factor transmission at the nanoscale by ribonucleotides, and Oncolytic virus therapy. Some of these strategies are effective and have been applied to treat multiple diseases; others are still in the exploratory phase, but the potential of these exploratory therapies is enormous and promises to overcome the limitations of traditional therapeutic strategies.