NFkB: Nuclear Factor-kappa B

Nuclear Factor-kappa B, also stated as NFkB, is a protein complex that resides in the cytoplasm of almost every cell in our body. It waits there until a signal is given for it to move into the nucleus of the cell and direct (through DNA transcription) the cellular DNA to manufacture the correct proteins to mount an inflammatory response to infection or bacterial invasion.

NF-κB is found in almost all animal cell types and is involved in cellular responses to stress, free radicals, ultraviolet irradiation, oxidized LDL, and bacterial or viral antigens.

This critical protein plays a key role in regulating the body’s immune response to infection by foreign agents. When it is correctly activated, it successfully directs our cells in fighting off infection or bacterial invasion. However, if NF-κB is incorrectly activated, it may result in increased cancers, uncontrolled inflammatory responses, autoimmune diseases, septic shock, overwhelming viral infection, and inappropriate immune development.

Recently, the statin drug companies have been spinning the idea that statin drugs are wonderful because they work to lower inflammation in the body.

Statins do this by interfering with the body’s production of NF-kB. While reducing inflammation is a good goal overall, accomplishing that goal by reducing the body’s natural response is in fact nothing more than treating a symptom, and ignoring the underlying cause. It seems to me that interfering with the body’s immune response will have serious and unintended consequences through incorrect gene transcription.

Indeed, statin use has been implicated in the increase of several types of cancer. This cancer response has been shown in the Prosper study, the CARE study, and the Japan Intervention trial, and this increase in cancers may be linked to the reduction of overall serum cholesterol levels, indicating that the inflammation itself is not the danger, but merely a symptom. See this paper for more information.

In addition, Duane Graveline's latest book, The Statin Damage Crisis, has an excellent chapter on this subject, in addition to being an excellent resource for those how want to know the truth about statin drugs.

This website is also a comprehensive resource of excellent information.

Down with NFkb, back to Statins