Role of rel family genes in normal and malignant lymphoid cell growth.
The rel family of genes encodes transcription factors, such as the v-rel oncoprotein and cellular transcription complexes (eg NF-kappa B), consisting of c-rel and related polypeptides. The expression of these genes is correlated most closely with lymphoid cell differentiation and growth stimulation in a variety of cell types. Similarly, rel family proteins control a number of genes involved in lymphoid cell growth and differentiation. Thus, it is not surprising that mutations in rel genes have been implicated directly and circumstantially in a number of lymphoid malignancies, as have a number of other cellular and viral transcription factors (see also Cleary M, Hayman M and Beug H, this issue and reviewed in Rabbitts, 1991). In addition, rel proteins are likely to be involved in T cell diseases caused by the human retroviruses HTLV-I and HIV-1. Therefore, rel proteins could serve as targets for anti-viral or anti-cancer therapies.
Gilmore
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Department of Biology, Boston University, Massachusetts 02215.
D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007938:Leukemia / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D008221:Lymphoid Tissue / Q000166:cytology*; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D020572:Oncogene Proteins v-rel; D009857:Oncogenes / Q000235:genetics*; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000235:genetics; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000235:genetics; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic / Q000235:genetics
D020572:Oncogene Proteins v-rel; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D015682:Retroviridae Proteins, Oncogenic; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases