CEBP

CEBP, short for CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein, designates a family of basic region leucine zipper transcription factors in vertebrates. Members include CEBPA, CEBPB, CEBPD, CEBPE and CEBPG. They bind to CCAAT boxes and related promoter elements to regulate transcription of genes involved in differentiation, metabolism and the inflammatory response. CEBP proteins function as dimers, forming homo- or heterodimers with each other or with other bZIP factors, enabling diverse regulatory outcomes.

Expression patterns and roles vary by member. CEBPA is highly expressed in liver and adipocytes and is essential for adipogenesis and granulocytic differentiation. CEBPB is broadly expressed and often induced by cytokines; CEBPD is an inducible stress-response factor. CEBPE is critical for myeloid lineage maturation, particularly granulocytes, while CEBPG is more ubiquitously expressed with supporting roles in transcriptional regulation. Interactions among C/EBP proteins and with coactivators or corepressors modulate transcriptional activity.

Biological processes and disease relevance: C/EBP factors regulate genes governing lipid metabolism, gluconeogenesis, acute-phase response and immune function. They interact with PPARs, NF-κB and other pathways to coordinate differentiation and metabolic programs. Dysregulation of CEBP signaling is linked to metabolic diseases such as obesity and insulin resistance, as well as hematologic malignancies. In acute myeloid leukemia, CEBPA mutations or altered expression contribute to leukemogenesis and can influence prognosis.

History and nomenclature: The family was defined by early work identifying CCAAT/enhancer-binding activity; subsequent cloning revealed multiple family members. The acronym is sometimes written as C/EBP or CEBP, with suffixes A–G for individual genes.