Progress towards the development of anti-inflammatory inhibitors of IKKbeta

The IkappaB kinases (IKKs) are essential components of the signaling pathway by which the NF-kappaB p50/RelA transcription factor is activated in response to pro-inflammatory stimuli such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha). NF-kappaB signaling results in the expression of numerous genes involved in innate and adaptive immune responses. The pathway is also implicated in chronic inflammatory disorders including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and asthma. Inhibition of the kinase activity of the IKKs is therefore a promising mechanism for intervention in these diseases. Here, we will review the literature describing small molecule inhibitors of IKKbeta (IKK2), the most widely studied of the IKKs.