Several lines of evidence demonstrate that NF-κB plays an important role in synaptic plasticity and long-term memory [15], [16], [25]–[29]. This factor is regulated by glutamate and required for LTP/LTD [28], fear conditioning [71] and spatial memory [26], [72]. NF-κB regulates, through its effects on expression of PKA, phosphorylation of CREB that is essential for transduction of synaptic signals into the cell nucleus and eventually for learning and memory [29]. These studies imply that adaptations in NF-κB in chronic alcoholics may influence neurocognitive functions through dysregulation of expression of PKA and other plastic genes in neurons.
