Abstract: In a method of identifying substances acting as inhibitors of NF-&kgr;B activation by MSK1 or MSK2, MSK1 or MSK2 are contacted with a predetermined amount of one or more test substances in the presence of an NF-&kgr;B subunit or a complex of NF-&kgr;B subunits, and a test substance is identified as an inhibitor of NF-&kgr;B activation by determining a decrease in NF-&kgr;B activation by MSK1 or MSK2 in the presence of said test substance compared to the level of NF-&kgr;B activation in the absence of said test substance.

Abstract: A method of modulating the level of activated, NF-&kgr;B in cells by contacting cells with a cyanoguanidine compound of general formula I wherein n is 0, 1 or 2; each R independently represents halogen, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, nitro, cyano, amino, sulfo or carboxy groups; Q is a straight or branched, saturated or unsaturated C4-20 divalent hydrocarbon radical; X is a bond, O, S, amino, carbonyl, carbonylamino, aminocarbonyl, oxycarbonyloxy, oxycarbonyl, carbonyloxy, aminocarbonyloxy, aminothiocarbonyloxy, oxycarbonylamino or oxythiocarbonylamino; A is di-(C1-4 alkoxy)phosphinoyloxy, C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, C1-4 alkoxycarbonylamino, saturated or unsaturated C3-12 carbocyclic ring or C3-12 heterocarbocyclic ring optionally substituted with one or more R1; R1 being independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, trifluoromethyl, hydroxy, C1-4 alkyl, C1-4 alkoxy, C1-4 alkoxycarbonyl, nitro, cyano, amino, carboxy, sulfo, carboxamido,

Abstract: A method of modulating the level of activated, NF-&kgr;B in cells by contacting cells with a cyanoguanidine compound of general formula I 1