GENETIC APPROACHES TO STUDY REL NF-KAPPA-B/I-KAPPA-B FUNCTION IN MICE/

The generation of animal models in which individual members of a gene family are genetically altered is a particularly attractive way to elu cidate their function. Members of the Rel/NF-kappa B/I kappa B family constitute an important network of transcription factors and regulator y proteins that control the expression of numerous cellular and viral genes crucial for a variety of processes. A feu examples are developme ntal pattern formation and immune response in Drosophila, viral replic ation, and immune, inflammatory, acute phase and stress responses in v ertebrates. The findings from knockout and transgenic mice developed t o study Rel/NF-kappa B/I kappa B function in vivo are reviewed here. I n general, these studies point to the essential role of these factors in the development and function of the vertebrate immune system. (C) 1 997 Academic Press Ltd.