REL NF-KAPPA-B TRANSCRIPTION FACTORS AND THE CONTROL OF APOPTOSIS/

The process of apoptosis is used to eliminate unwanted cells from a wi de variety of organisms. Various ext extracellular signals, often conv erging in common intracellular pathways, can induce apoptosis in a cel l-type-specific fashion. Recent work from several laboratories has dem onstrated that Rel/NF-kappa B transcription factors regulate apoptosis in many cell types. In most cells, Rel/NF-kappa B transcription, fact ors appear to mediate survival signals that protect cells from apoptos is; however, under some circumstances, activation of these factors may also promote apoptosis. (C) 1997 Academic Press Ltd.