NF-κB is activated via the phosphorylation of IKK34, and a previous study reported that metformin, a biguanide derivative, attenuated IκBα phosphorylation and NF-κB DNA-binding activity, resulting in the attenuation of acute murine colitis, chronic colitis and colitis-associated tumorigenesis in mice37. Here, NFKBIA is linked to colitis.