NF-κB pathwayactivators as potential ageing biomarkers: targets for new therapeuticstrategies.

Chronic inflammation is a major biological mechanism underpinning biological ageing process and age-relateddiseases. Inflammation is also the key response of host defense against pathogens and tissue injury. Current opinionsustains that during evolution the host defense and ageing process have become linked together. Thus, the largearray of defense factors and mechanisms linked to the NF-κB system seem to be involved in ageing process. Thisconcept leads us in proposing inductors of NF-κB signaling pathway as potential ageing biomarkers. On the otherhand, ageing biomarkers, represented by biological indicators and selected through apposite criteria, should help tocharacterize biological age and, since age is a major risk factor in many degenerative diseases, could besubsequently used to identify individuals at high risk of developing age-associated diseases or disabilities. In thisreport, some inflammatory biomarkers will be discussed for a better understanding of the concept of biologicalageing, providing ideas on eventual working hypothesis about potential targets for the development of newtherapeutic strategies and improving, as consequence, the quality of life of elderly population