Disclosed are isolated IKK.gamma..DELTA.; isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding IKK.gamma..DELTA.; expression vectors and cells which contain such nucleic acid molecules; oligonucleotides which are complementary to at least a portion of nucleic acid molecules encoding IKK.gamma..DELTA. but which are not complementary to any portion of nucleic acid molecules encoding wild type IKK.gamma.; antibodies which are specific for IKK.gamma..DELTA.; DNA and RNA oligomers, optionally in labeled or enzymatically active form, which are capable of selectively hybridizing to nucleic acid molecules encoding IKK.gamma..DELTA.; and DNA and RNA oligomers, optionally in labeled or enzymatically active form, which are capable of selectively hybridizing to nucleic acid molecules encoding IKK.gamma..DELTA. but which do not hybridize with nucleic acid molecules encoding wild type IKK.gamma.. Methods for using these materials to inhibit formation of IKK.gamma..DELTA.-containing IKK, to inhibit NF-.kappa.B activation, and to treat or prevent inflammation are also disclosed.