Transcription Factors

Transcription factors are regulatory proteins that can increase or decrease the transcription of a particular gene from deoxyribonucleic acid into the corresponding ribonucleic acid. They play a key role in embryonic development, the creation and maintenance of cell type- and tissue-specific patterns of protein synthesis and the response to cellular signaling pathways. Transcription factors are involved in a large number of human diseases such as congenital malformations, hereditary syndromes and a myriad of benignant and malignant neoplasms. Some transcription factors in addition to their regulation of homeostatic genes control the expression of many inflammatory genes and may, therefore, play a key role in the pathogenesis of a rapidly growing number of inflammatory/autoimmune diseases contributing to determine disease severity and response to treatment.