The present invention relates to apoptosis specific eucaryotic initiation factor 5A (eIF-5A), referred to as apoptosis-specific eIF-5A or eIF5A1, nucleic acids and polypeptides and methods for inhibiting or suppressing apoptosis in cells using antisense nucleotides or siRNAs to inhibit expression of apoptosis-specific eIF-5A. The invention also relates to suppressing or inhibiting expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines or inhibiting activation of NFKB by inhibiting expression of apoptosis-specific eIF-5A.