P. Ruminy et al., Gene transcription in hepatocytes during the acute phase of a systemic inflammation: from transcription factors to target genes, INFLAMM RES, 50(8), 2001, pp. 383-390
During an acute, systemic inflammation, the liver is triggered by blood-bor
ne pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Tumor Necrosis Factor alpha, Interleu
kin-1,beta and Interleukin-6. The end result is an up- or down-regulated sy
nthesis and/or activation of liver-enriched transcription factors that in t
urn regulate many target genes coding for resident or secreted acute phase
proteins. In this review, various classifications of these acute phase prot
eins are presented. Major inflammation-driven changes in the synthesis and/
or activity of the hepatic transcription factors are illustrated. Some of t
heir up-or down-regulated target genes are used as paradigms of the various
transcriptional mechanisms that take place on gene promoters during an acu
te, systemic inflammation. Finally, further specific features of inflammati
on-associated gene transcription in liver from acute phase onset to resolut
ion are provided.