Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) is a ubiquitous transcription factor and an essential mediator of gene expression during activation of immune and inflammatory responses. NF-κB mediates the expression of a great variety of genes in response to extracellular stimuli including IL-1, TNFalpha and LPS. A serine/threonine protein kinase associated with IL-1 receptor (IRAK) and its homologue mouse pelle-like protein kinase (mPLK) were identified recently. IRAK is associated with the IL-1 receptor subunits IL-1RI and IL-1RAcP after IL-1 binding and serves as a signaling molecule to mediate IL-1 response. IRAK mediates a signaling cascade leading to NF-κB activation by members in IL-1 family including IL-1 and a novel cytokine IL-18 (also termed IGIF).
