Live Cell Imaging: Studying NF-kB Signaling Dynamics Using the Operettta System

The NF-κB family of transcription factors was identified more than 20 years ago and today it is well established that NF-κB plays a pivotal role in all aspects of immunity and cellular response to pathogens [Hayden and Ghosh, 2008]. Aberrant activation of NF-κB signaling is associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis [Criswell, 2010] and asthma [Broide et al., 2005]. More recently, low-grade inflammation and NF-κB activation have been associated with the initiation and propagation of metabolic disease [Baker et al., 2011]. NF-κB signaling therefore remains an attractive target in the development of drugs against inflammation-associated diseases.