Question

identify two transcription factors that have critical roles in the immune response

Answer 1

Transcription factors are the proteins that bind DNA-regulatory sequences usually located in the 5' upstream region of target genes. They modulate the rate of gene transcription. There are many transcription factors that play an important role in triggering immune response, two of them are NF-kB and STAT. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) is a ubiquitous transcription factor which is involved in inflammatory and immune responses. In addition it is also involved in the regulation of expression of many other genes which are responsible survival, proliferation and differentiation of innate immune cells and inflammatory T cells. NF-kB transcription factor regulates multiple aspects of innate and adaptive immune functions and serves as an important mediator of inflammatory responses. It induces the expression of various pro-inflammatory genes including cytokines and chemokines. Members of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) protein family are intracellular transcription factors. When activated by membrane receptor-associated Janus kinase (JAK) they mediate many aspects of cellular immunity, proliferation, apoptosis and differentiation.