title: Distinctions between c-Rel and other NF-kappaB proteins in immunity and disease.
abstract: c-Rel is a proto-oncogene first identified as the cellular counterpart of the v-Rel oncogene derived from the avian reticuloendotheliosis retrovirus (REV-T). It was subsequently discovered that c-Rel belongs to the NF-kappaB/Rel transcription factor family whose members share a common DNA recognition motif and similar signaling pathways. Despite the similarities, however, each NF-kappaB/Rel member possesses unique properties with regard to tissue expression pattern, response to receptor signals and target gene specificity. These differences are fairly evident from the non-redundant phenotypes exhibited by individual NF-kappaB/Rel knockout mice. Hence the work described in this review will compare and contrast the various physiological functions of c-Rel to those of other NF-kappaB members, particularly with respect to the regulation of proliferation, survival and effector functions in multiple hematopoietic and immunological cell types. The study of c-Rel knockout mice in several disease models will also be discussed as they reveal an important role for c-Rel in response to allergens, auto-antigens, allo-antigens and pathogenic infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Immunology, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 515 East 71 Street, S-210, New York, NY 10021, USA. hcliou@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Hsiou-Chi
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Constance Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015551:Autoimmunity; D020573:Genes, rel; D006410:Hematopoiesis; D006967:Hypersensitivity / Q000276:immunology; D007239:Infections / Q000276:immunology; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D018448:Models, Immunological; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000276:immunology*; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / Q000276:immunology*; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D016328:NF-kappa B; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel