title: [The Rel/NF-kappa B transcription factors and their biological functions].
abstract: The gene family of ubiquitous transcriptional factors Rel/NF-kappa B participates in several critical cellular events ultimately influencing the fate of a cell. In the cytoplasm of all eukaryotic cells, the Rel/NF-kappa B proteins occur bound to their inhibitors, the I kappa B proteins. When stimulated, they become phosphorylated and degraded by 26S proteasome releasing Rel/NF-kappa B. Active Rel/NF-kappa B heterodimers then enter the nucleus, bind to a -kappa B coupling element and start transcription of kappa B-regulated array of genes involved in immune, antiapoptotic and inflammatory events. Part of the pharmacological effects of glucocorticoids, acetylosalicylic acid an ibuprofen may stand on influencing the Rel/NF-kappa B pathway. New compounds with cytotoxic and immunomodulatory properties acting specifically on the cascade of Rel/NF-kappa B signaling system are expected to be synthesized.
authors.affiliation: Ustav patologické fyziologie LF MU, Brno. kankova@med.cuni.cz
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kankova
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vojtesek
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Valík
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D020672:I-kappa B Proteins / Q000502:physiology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology*; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D020672:I-kappa B Proteins; D016328:NF-kappa B; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel; D014157:Transcription Factors