Differential requirements for the canonical NF-κB transcription factors c-REL and RELA during the generation and activation of mature B cells.

Signaling through the canonical nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) pathway is critical for the generation and maintenance of mature B cells and for antigen-dependent B-cell activation. c-REL (rel) and RELA (rela) are the downstream transcriptional activators of the canonical NF-κB pathway. Studies of B cells derived from constitutional rel knockout mice and chimeric mice repopulated with rela fetal liver cells provided evidence that the subunits can have distinct roles during B-cell development.