User:Aidan S Anderson/CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins

C/EBPβ levels are increased in cortical samples of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease victims at autopsy. Cell culture studies in mice and human microglia lines also find increased C/EBPβ activity associated with pathogenic inflammation and cytokine responses. Downstream analysis of genes regulated by C/EBPβ have significance in immune response, mitochondrial health, and autophagy. Molecular interference of these cellular processes have been shown to play a role in neurodegenerative pathogenesis. Genetic and molecular pathways with degenerative implications involving C/EBPβ and it's homologs are conserved across multiple model organisms including Mus musculus, Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Danio rerio. Upstream regulators of C/EBPβ include genes known to be associated with neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disease when mutated or dysregulated. This includes a well characterized cellular stress response pathway involving p38 and JNK.