title: Genes don't count.
abstract: It is the regulation of gene expression that determines phenotype and cellular response. Several families of proteins control gene expression in cells and influence the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure, the acute phase response, atherosclerosis, and graft-vs-host disease. Understanding the basics of the regulation of gene transcription will allow the knowledgeable surgeon to target gene expression as a therapeutic modality in multiple diseases. We examine nuclear factor kappa B as an example of a transcription factor that is involved in multiple surgical diseases and has pharmacological inhibitors available to knowledgeable surgeons.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
authors.forename: B D
authors.initials: BD
authors.lastname: Shames
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Selzman
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Meldrum
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cain
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Harken
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000503:physiopathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B