A selective IKK-2 inhibitor blocks NF-kappa B-dependent gene expression in interleukin-1 beta-stimulated synovial fibroblasts.

NF-kappa B-induced gene expression contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis. I kappa B kinase (IKK) is the converging point for the activation of NF-kappa B by a broad spectrum of inflammatory agonists and is thus a novel target for therapeutic intervention. We describe a small molecule, selective inhibitor of IKK-2, SC-514, which does not inhibit other IKK isoforms or other serine-threonine and tyrosine kinases.