Fig. 9.

Schematic representation of postulated mechanisms of Ac-SDKP-mediated downregulation of TNF-α-induced NF-κB signaling cascade in HCAECs. TNF-α binds to TNF-α receptor (TNF-α-R) and leads to serine phosphorylation of IKK-β. Phosphorylated and activated IKK-β phosphorylates IκB, which then causes NF-κB to be released from the IκB-NF-κB complex and to be translocated to the nucleus, where it binds to the ICAM-1 promoter and initiates the transcription of ICAM-1 gene. Ac-SDKP inhibits TNF-α-induced phosphorylation of IKK-β and subsequently the phosphorylation of IκB, leading to the inhibitions of ICAM-1 expression. TRAFs, TNF-α receptor-associated factors.