The role of Rel/NF-kappaB transcription factors in B lymphocyte survival.

Among the transcriptional mediators of the various signal transduction pathways that have been shown to regulate lymphocyte apoptosis, Rel/NF-kappaB transcription factors have emerged as key regulators of B cell survival during their differentiation and in their activation by antigens or mitogens. The aim of this review is to bring together recent findings on Rel/NF-kappaB regulation of B cell survival and to present an integrated model of how these transcription factors control apoptosis in a signal and differentiation-stage specific manner. In addition to providing a contemporary view of Rel/NF-kappaB regulated B cell survival, the model described here is aimed to serve as a paradigm for how Rel/NF-kappaB family members control survival in different cell types during differentiation and in response to the plethora of signals that impinge on this master transcriptional regulatory pathway.