Wurzer WJ, Ehrhardt C, Pleschka S, Berberich-Siebelt F, Wolff T, Walczak H, Planz O, Ludwig S (2004): NF-κB dependent induction of TRAIL and FasL is crucial for efficient influenza virus propagation.
J. Biol. Chem. 279 (30): 30931-30937, published May 12, 2004 as doi:10.1074/jbc.M403258200.

Activation of the transcription factor NF-κB is a hallmark of infections by viral pathogens including influenza viruses. Since gene expression of many proinflammatory and antiviral cytokines is controlled by this factor, the concept emerged that NF-κB and its upstream regulator IKK are essential components of the innate antiviral immune response to infectious pathogens. In contrast to this common view we report here that NF-κB activity promotes efficient influenza virus production. On a molecular level this is due to NF-κB-dependent viral induction of the proapoptotic factors TRAIL and FasL that enhance virus propagation in an auto- and paracrine fashion. Thus, NF-κB acts both proapoptotic and proviral in the context of an influenza virus infection.