Expression and function of Ets transcription factors in mammalian development: a regulatory network

The Ets transcription factor family is involved in a variety of mammalian d evelopmental processes at the cellular, tissue and organ levels. They are i mplicated in cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration, apoptosis and cell-cell interactions. This article reviews recent studies that demons trate the integral importance of Ets in the dosage dependent regulation of development. The expression of many Ets genes is associated with mesenchyma l - epithelial interactions and changes in extracellular matrix proteins, T hese inductive processes contribute to tissue remodeling and integrity, par ticularly during embryonic development. Overlapping as well as unique patte rns of Ets expression are evident in developing tissues, including developm ent of the lymphoid and myeloid lineages, brain and central nervous system, bone and mammary gland. Integration of these data will allow the developme nt of predictive models for the regulation of complex developmental process es.