Role of NF-κB
As there are no vaccines or conventional drugs available for the
treatment of SARS-CoV-2, we might consider the possibility of using
drugs that can suppress NF-κB and thereby limit the inflammatory
response to the virus pathogen18, 19. NF-κB is a
ubiquitous and pleiotropic protein that regulate more than 400 genes
associated with the immune responses including inflammation, immunity,
cell proliferation, differentiation, and survival20,
21.
The canonical and non-canonical NF-қB signaling pathways differ with
respect to downstream signaling involved in stress responses and for the
regulation of cell proliferation and apoptosis; this provides a means
for effective orchestration of inflammatory and immune
responses22 and to modulate a number of different
disorders including the inflammatory basis of metabolic diseases,
glycolysis, and oxidative metabolism23. Therefore,
NF-κB could be a major target for
therapeutic
intervention24.
Virus-induced NF-κB activity can promote or suppress viral
activity24, 25,
26. The initial immune response
to viral infections includes the induction of numerous cytokines;
TNF-α and IL-1β play key roles in
the early induction of inflammation and innate immune
responses27. Viral infections are controlled directly
by TNF-α. Moreover, these cytokines induce the synthesis and release of
additional cytokines, promote the expression of cell adhesion molecules,
and enhance the innate cytotoxicity of macrophages and
neutrophils28. Moreover, activated NF-қB cause
cytokine storm29.