The c-Rel transcription factor and B-cell proliferation: a deal with the devil.
Activation of the Rel/NF-kappaB signal transduction pathway has been associated with a variety of animal and human malignancies. However, among the Rel/NF-kappaB family members, only c-Rel has been consistently shown to be able to malignantly transform cells in culture. In addition, c-rel has been activated by a retroviral promoter insertion in an avian B-cell lymphoma, and amplifications of REL (human c-rel) are frequently seen in Hodgkin's lymphomas and diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, and in some follicular and mediastinal B-cell lymphomas. Phenotypic analysis of c-rel knockout mice demonstrates that c-Rel has a normal role in B-cell proliferation and survival; moreover, c-Rel nuclear activity is required for B-cell development. Few mammalian model systems are available to study the role of c-Rel in oncogenesis, and it is still not clear what features of c-Rel endow it with its unique oncogenic activity among the Rel/NF-kappaB family. In any event, REL may provide an appropriate therapeutic target for certain human lymphoid cell malignancies.
Gilmore
Thomas D
TD
Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA. gilmore@bu.edu
Kalaitzidis
Demetrios
D
Liang
Mei-Chih
MC
Starczynowski
Daniel T
DT
D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D015448:Leukemia, B-Cell / Q000235:genetics; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000502:physiology; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000502:physiology
D016328:NF-kappa B; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel