Rel-deficient T cells exhibit defects in production of interleukin 3 and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor

Abstract

The c-rel protooncogene encodes a subunit of the NF-κB-like family of transcription factors. Mice lacking Rel are defective in mitogenic activation of B and T lymphocytes and display impaired humoral immunity. In an attempt to identify changes in gene expression that accompany the T-cell stimulation defects associated with the loss of Rel, we have examined the expression of cell surface activation markers and cytokine production in mitogen-stimulated Rel(-/-) T cells. The expression of cell surface markers including the interleukin 2 receptor α (IL-2Rα) chain (CD25), CD69 and L-selectin (CD62) is normal in mitogen-activated Rel(-/-) T cells, but cytokine production is impaired. In Rel(-/-) s..