Critical roles of c-Rel in autoimmune inflammation and helper T cell differentiation

Different members of the Rel/NF-kappaB family may play different roles in immunity and inflammation. We report here that c-Rel-deficient mice are resistant to autoimmune encephalomyelitis and are defective in Th1, but not Th2 responses. The Th1 deficiency appears to be caused by selective blockade of IL-12 production by c-Rel-deficient antigen-presenting cells, as well as by a complete abrogation of IFN-gamma expression in c-Rel-deficient T cells. Interestingly, c-Rel deficiency does not affect T-bet expression, suggesting that c-Rel may act downstream of T-bet during Th1 cell differentiation. Thus, unlike NF-kappaB1, which selectively regulates Th2 cell differentiation, c-Rel is essential for Th1 cell differentiation and Th1 cell-mediated autoimmune inflammation.