Induction of C-reactive protein (CRP) synthesis in hepatocytes by cytokines occurs at the transcriptional level. In Hep3B cells, the transcription factors C/EBPbeta, STAT3, and Rel p50 have been shown to participate in this process. A C/EBP binding site centered at -53 and an overlapping nonconsensus kappaB site on the promoter are critical for CRP expression. We have previously found that an oligonucleotide containing a kappaB site diminished binding of C/EBPbeta to the C/EBP site, suggesting that unidentified Rel proteins present in Hep3B nuclei facilitate the formation of C/EBPbeta-complexes. The current studies were undertaken to determine which of the five Rel proteins, p50/p65/p52/c-Rel/RelB, play such a role. Mutation of the nonconsensus kappaB site did not abolish binding of C/EBPbeta to its binding site, indicating that this site was not necessary for the formation of C/EBPbeta-complexes. Depletion of Rel proteins from Hep3B nuclei led to decreased formation of C/EBPbeta-complexes on a CRP promoter-derived oligonucleotide that contained only the intact C/EBP binding site but not the nonconsensus kappaB site. This finding indicates that Rel proteins are involved in the binding of C/EBPbeta to its binding site by a kappaB site-independent mechanism. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) revealed that it was c-Rel that facilitated formation of C/EBPbeta-complexes and that c-Rel bound directly to C/EBPbeta-complexes formed on the C/EBP site. Cotransfection of c-Rel enhanced the induction of CRP promoter-driven luciferase activity and enhanced endogenous CRP expression in cells transfected with C/EBPbeta. We conclude that c-Rel regulates CRP expression without the requirement of binding to a kappaB site, and binds directly to C/EBPbeta to facilitate the binding of C/EBPbeta to the CRP promoter.