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Results for “Interferon Regulatory Factor-3”

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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1998

Regulation of type I interferon gene expression by interferon regulatory factor-3.

The genes of the family of interferon (IFN) regulatory factors (IRF) encode DNA binding transcriptional factors that are involved in modulation of transcription of IFN and interferon-induced genes (ISG). The presence of IRF binding sites in the promoter region of IFNA and IFNB genes indicates that IRF factors recognizing these sites play an important role in the virus-mediated induction of these genes. We have described a novel human gene of this family, IRF-3, that is constitutively expressed in a variety of cell types. IRF-3 binds to the interferon-sensitive response element (ISRE) present in the ISG15 gene promoter and activates its transcriptional activity. In the present study, we examined whether IRF-3 can modulate transcriptional activity of IFNA and IFNB promoter regions. Our results demonstrate that IRF-3 can bind to the IRF-like binding sites present in the virus-inducible region of the IFNA4 promoter and to the PRDIII region of the IFNB promoter but cannot alone stimulate their transcriptional activity in the human cell line, 293. However, the fusion protein generated from the IRF-3 binding domain and the RelA(p65) activation domain effectively activates both IFNA4 and IFNB promoters. Cotransfection of IRF-3 and RelA(p65) expression plasmids activates the IFNB gene promoter but not the promoter of IFNA4 gene that does not contain the NF-kB binding site. Surprisingly, activation of the IFNA4 gene promoter by virus and IRF-1 in these cells was inhibited by IRF-3. These data indicate that in 293 cells IRF-3 does not stimulate expression of IFN genes but can cooperate with RelA(p65) to stimulate the IFNB promoter.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

The growing family of interferon regulatory factors.

Interferons (IFN) exert their multiple biological effects through the induction of expression of over 30 genes encoding proteins with antiviral, antiproliferative and immunomodulatory functions. Among the many IFN-inducible proteins are the Interferon Regulatory Factors (IRFs), a family of transcription regulators, originally consisting of the well-characterized IRF-1 and IRF-2 proteins; the family has now expanded to over 10 members and is still growing. The present review provides a detailed description of recently characterized IRF family members. Studies analyzing IRF-expressing cell lines and IRF knockout mice reveal that each member of the IRF family exerts distinct roles in biological processes such as pathogen response, cytokine signalling, cell growth regulation and hematopoietic development. Understanding the molecular mechanisms by which the IRFs affect these important cellular events and IFN expression will contribute to a greater understanding of events leading to various viral, immune and malignant disease states and will suggest novel strategies for antiviral and immune modulatory therapy.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2021

Viral infection of cells within the tumor microenvironment mediates antitumor immunotherapy via selective TBK1-IRF3 signaling.

Activating intra-tumor innate immunity might enhance tumor immune surveillance. Virotherapy is proposed to achieve tumor cell killing, while indirectly activating innate immunity. Here, we report that recombinant poliovirus therapy primarily mediates antitumor immunotherapy via direct infection of non-malignant tumor microenvironment (TME) cells, independent of malignant cell lysis. Relative to other innate immune agonists, virotherapy provokes selective, TBK1-IRF3 driven innate inflammation that is associated with sustained type-I/III interferon (IFN) release. Despite priming equivalent antitumor T cell quantities, MDA5-orchestrated TBK1-IRF3 signaling, but not NFκB-polarized TLR activation, culminates in polyfunctional and Th1-differentiated antitumor T cell phenotypes. Recombinant type-I IFN increases tumor-localized T cell function, but does not mediate durable antitumor immunotherapy without concomitant pattern recognition receptor (PRR) signaling. Thus, virus-induced MDA5-TBK1-IRF3 signaling in the TME provides PRR-contextualized IFN responses that elicit functional antitumor T cell immunity. TBK1-IRF3 innate signal transduction stimulates eventual function and differentiation of tumor-infiltrating T cells.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Direct triggering of the type I interferon system by virus infection: activation of a transcription factor complex containing IRF-3 and CBP/p300.

It has been hypothesized that certain viral infections directly activate a transcription factor(s) which is responsible for the activation of genes encoding type I interferons (IFNs) and interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) via interferon regulatory factor (IRF) motifs present in their respective promoters. These events trigger the activation of defense machinery against viruses. Here we demonstrate that IRF-3 transmits a virus-induced signal from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In unstimulated cells, IRF-3 is present in its inactive form, restricted to the cytoplasm due to a continuous nuclear export mediated by nuclear export signal, and it exhibits few DNA-binding properties. Virus infection but not IFN treatment induces phosphorylation of IRF-3 on specific serine residues, thereby allowing it to complex with the co-activator CBP/p300 with simultaneous nuclear translocation and its specific DNA binding. We also show that a dominant-negative mutant of IRF-3 could inhibit virus-induced activation of chromosomal type I IFN genes and ISGs. These findings suggest that IRF-3 plays an important role in the virus-inducible primary activation of type I IFN and IFN-responsive genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

Involvement of the IRF family transcription factor IRF-3 in virus-induced activation of the IFN-beta gene.

The virus-induced activation of interferon alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta) gene transcription is essential for host defense. The IFN-beta promoter is controlled primarily by the virus-inducible enhancer elements, the IRF-Es. Here we show that IRF-3, an IRF family transcription factor, translocates to the nucleus from the cytoplasm upon virus infection in NIH/3T3 cells. The nuclear IRF-3 is phosphorylated, interacts with the co-activators CBP/p300, and binds specifically to the IFN-beta IRF-E. Furthermore, overexpression of IRF-3 causes a marked increase in virus-induced IFN-beta mRNA expression. Thus, IRF-3 is a candidate transcription factor mediating the activation of the IFN-beta gene.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1995

Identification of a member of the interferon regulatory factor family that binds to the interferon-stimulated response element and activates expression of interferon-induced genes.

A family of interferon (IFN) regulatory factors (IRFs) have been shown to play a role in transcription of IFN genes as well as IFN-stimulated genes. We report the identification of a member of the IRF family which we have named IRF-3. The IRF-3 gene is present in a single copy in human genomic DNA. It is expressed constitutively in a variety of tissues and no increase in the relative steady-state levels of IRF-3 mRNA was observed in virus-infected or IFN-treated cells. The IRF-3 gene encodes a 50-kDa protein that binds specifically to the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) but not to the IRF-1 binding site PRD-I. Overexpression of IRF-3 stimulates expression of the IFN-stimulated gene 15 (ISG15) promoter, an ISRE-containing promoter. The murine IFNA4 promoter, which can be induced by IRF-1 or viral infection, is not induced by IRF-3. Expression of IRF-3 as a Gal4 fusion protein does not activate expression of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene containing repeats of the Gal4 binding sites, indicating that this protein does not contain the transcription transactivation domain. The high amino acid homology between IRF-3 and ISG factor 3 gamma polypeptide (ISGF3 gamma) and their similar binding properties indicate that, like ISGF3 gamma, IRF-3 may activate transcription by complex formation with other transcriptional factors, possibly members of the Stat family. Identification of this ISRE-binding protein may help us to understand the specificity in the various Stat pathways.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1998

The polyoma virus T antigen interferes with interferon-inducible gene expression.

Murine polyoma virus (MPyV) is a small DNA virus that induces tumors in multiple tissues of infected host. In this investigation, we show that cell lines derived from wild type virus-induced breast tumors are resistant to the growth inhibitory action of interferon beta (IFN-beta). Furthermore, replication of heterologous viruses such as vesicular stomatitis virus and encephalomyocarditis virus was not inhibited by IFN-beta in these cells. This effect was due to inhibition of IFN-stimulated gene expression by viral T antigen. Activation of IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 was inhibited in cells derived from a tumor induced by wild-type MPyV but not those from a mutant that lacks the pRB binding site of the large T antigen. Similarly IFN-gamma-inducible gene expression was also inhibited in cells transformed by wild-type virus. The levels of components of IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 and signal transducing Janus tyrosine kinases were comparable between the cells transformed by the wild-type and mutant viruses. The viral large T antigen bound to Janus tyrosine kinase 1 and inactivated signaling through IFN receptors. Thus, these studies identify a mechanism of viral resistance to IFN action.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

ZNF593 regulates the cGAS-mediated innate immune response by attenuating cGAS-DNA binding.

The enzyme cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS) is essential for detecting aberrantly located double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) from genomic, mitochondrial, and microbial origins. Through the synthesis of 2'3'-cGAMP, cGAS triggers the activation of the stimulator of interferon genes pathway, which initiates in vivo innate immune responses. Here, we identify zinc finger proteins ZNF593, which translocate from the nucleus to the cytoplasm after viral infection, as a negative regulator of antiviral type I IFN (IFN-I) production. ZNF593 directly binds to cGAS and suppresses its activation by inhibiting the cGAS-dsDNA interaction. ZNF593 deficiency increases IRF3 nuclear translocation and promotes DNA virus-triggered IFN production. Furthermore, ZNF593 deficiency promotes antiviral innate responses in vivo, improving survival rates in mice against HSV-1 infection. We further find that ZNF593 plays a protective role in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) pathology. Notably, replenishing ZNF593 effectively reduced IFN production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of SLE patients or in the TMPD-induced murine SLE model. Our findings suggest that ZNF593 negatively regulates IFN-β signaling by targeting cGAS activation, providing new insights into the regulatory mechanisms for antiviral defenses and autoimmune diseases.

Nucleotidyltransferases↗

PubMed2026

NAT10 is critical to block RNA sensing-induced IFN-β transactivation in viral infection.

UNLABELLED: Cells detect invading viruses and produce type I interferons (IFNs) to stimulate an innate antiviral effector response. However, IFN levels must be fine-tuned to achieve antiviral efficacy while limiting hyperinflammatory and tissue-damaging effects. Here, we report that NAT10, a histone and cytidine acetyltransferase, regulates the production of type I IFNs and RNA virus infections. Depletion of NAT10 increased the expression of IFN-β and IFN-stimulated genes, and correspondingly impaired viral replication. Mechanistically, NAT10 dynamically associated with the IFN-β promoter and also negatively regulated IRF3's chromatin associations through modulation of long noncoding RNAs that inhibit IRF3. Treatment of cells with Remodelin, a NAT10 inhibitor, similarly increased IFN-β expression and inhibited viral infections. Overall, our findings reveal NAT10 is a potential host-directed target for antiviral treatment via regulation of type I IFN. IMPORTANCE: Type I interferons (IFNs) signaling pathway is critical to cellular defense and innate immunity against evading pathogens, including viruses. However, induction of type I IFNs is fine-tuned to achieve the antiviral consequence while maintaining host cellular homeostasis. This paper presents a novel mechanism for the NAT10 protein to silence IFN-β induction through modulation of IRF3 activity at the promoter of IFN-β, and further demonstrates the therapeutic potential of the NAT10 inhibitor Remodelin to restrict viral infection while inducing IFN-β.

Interferon-beta↗

PubMed1998

Interferon regulatory factor 3 and CREB-binding protein/p300 are subunits of double-stranded RNA-activated transcription factor DRAF1.

Cells respond to viral infection or double-stranded RNA with the transcriptional induction of a subset of alpha/beta interferon-stimulated genes by a pathway distinct from the interferon signal pathway. The transcriptional induction is mediated through a DNA sequence containing the alpha/beta interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE). We previously identified a novel transcription factor, designated double-stranded RNA-activated factor 1 (DRAF1), that recognizes this response element. The DNA-binding specificity of DRAF1 correlates with transcriptional induction, thereby distinguishing it as a positive regulator of alpha/beta interferon-stimulated genes. Two of the components of DRAF1 have now been identified as interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF-3) and the transcriptional coactivator CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300. We demonstrate that IRF-3 preexists in the cytoplasm of uninfected cells and translocates to the nucleus following viral infection. Translocation of IRF-3 is accompanied by an increase in serine and threonine phosphorylation. Coimmunoprecipitation analyses of endogenous proteins demonstrate an association of IRF-3 with the transcriptional coactivators CBP and p300 only subsequent to infection. In addition, antibodies to the IRF-3, CBP, and p300 molecules react with DRAF1 bound to the ISRE target site of induced genes. The cellular response that leads to DRAF1 activation and specific gene expression may serve to increase host survival during viral infection.

Alkylation↗

PubMed1998

Virus-dependent phosphorylation of the IRF-3 transcription factor regulates nuclear translocation, transactivation potential, and proteasome-mediated degradation.

The interferon regulatory factors (IRF) consist of a growing family of related transcription proteins first identified as regulators of the alpha beta interferon (IFN-alpha/beta) gene promoters, as well as the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) of some IFN-stimulated genes. IRF-3 was originally identified as a member of the IRF family based on homology with other IRF family members and on binding to the ISRE of the ISG15 promoter. IRF-3 is expressed constitutively in a variety of tissues, and the relative levels of IRF-3 mRNA do not change in virus-infected or IFN-treated cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that following Sendai virus infection, IRF-3 is posttranslationally modified by protein phosphorylation at multiple serine and threonine residues, which are located in the carboxy terminus of IRF-3. A combination of IRF-3 deletion and point mutations localized the inducible phosphorylation sites to the region -ISNSHPLSLTSDQ- between amino acids 395 and 407; point mutation of residues Ser-396 and Ser-398 eliminated virus-induced phosphorylation of IRF-3 protein, although residues Ser-402, Thr-404, and Ser-405 were also targets. Phosphorylation results in the cytoplasm-to-nucleus translocation of IRF-3, DNA binding, and increased transcriptional activation. Substitution of the Ser-Thr sites with the phosphomimetic Asp generated a constitutively active form of IRF-3 that functioned as a very strong activator of promoters containing PRDI-PRDIII or ISRE regulatory elements. Phosphorylation also appears to represent a signal for virus-mediated degradation, since the virus-induced turnover of IRF-3 was prevented by mutation of the IRF-3 Ser-Thr cluster or by proteasome inhibitors. Interestingly, virus infection resulted in the association of IRF-3 with the CREB binding protein (CBP) coactivator, as detected by coimmunoprecipitation with anti-CBP antibody, an interaction mediated by the C-terminal domains of both proteins. Mutation of residues Ser-396 and Ser-398 in IRF-3 abrogated its binding to CBP. These results are discussed in terms of a model in which virus-inducible, C-terminal phosphorylation of IRF-3 alters protein conformation to permit nuclear translocation, association with transcriptional partners, and primary activation of IFN- and IFN-responsive genes.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2025

The R203M and D377Y mutations of the nucleocapsid protein promote SARS-CoV-2 infectivity by impairing RIG-I-mediated antiviral signaling.

The viral protein mutations can modify virus-host interactions during virus evolution, and thus alter the extent of infection or pathogenicity. Studies indicate that nucleocapsid (N) protein of SARS-CoV-2 participates in viral genome assembly, intracellular signal regulation and immune interference. However, its biological function in viral evolution is not well understood. SARS-CoV-2 N protein mutations were analyzed in Delta, Omicron, and original strains. Two mutations with a methionine (M) residue at site 203 and a tyrosine (Y) residue at site 377 of the N protein were found in Delta strain but not in Omicron and original strains, and promoted SARS-CoV-2 infection therein. Those mutations, R203M and D377Y, enhanced the inhibitory impact of N protein on the impairment of RIG-I-mediated antiviral signaling, such as IRF3 phosphorylation and IFN-β activation. The viral RNA-binding activity of N protein was promoted by these mutations, effectively attenuating the recognition and interaction of RIG-I with viral RNA compared to the original or other variants. The R203M/D377Y mutations thus enhanced the suppressive activity of the N protein on RIG-I-mediated interferon induction both in vitro and in vivo, which in turn promoted viral replication. This study helps to understand the variability of SARS-CoV-2 in regulating host immunity.

SARS-CoV-2↗

PubMed1995

Cytokine regulation of the liver transcription factor hepatocyte nuclear factor-3 beta is mediated by the C/EBP family and interferon regulatory factor 1.

Three distinct hepatocyte nuclear factor-3 (HNF-3) proteins (alpha, beta, and gamma) regulate the transcription of numerous liver-enriched genes. The HNF-3 proteins bind DNA via a homologous winged helix motif common to a number of proteins known to be critical for determination events in embryogenesis. We have demonstrated previously that two binding sites in the -184 HNF-3 beta promoter are recognized by widely distributed factors and that there is also a critical autoregulatory site, we identified a binding site for a cell-specific factor, LF-H3 beta, that may function in restricting HNF-3 beta gene expression to hepatocytes. Our present study demonstrates that members of the C/EBP and proline and acidic amino acid-rich subfamilies of basic region leucine zipper transcription factors bind the LF-H3 beta site, and cotransfection of HepG2 cells shows that these factors are able to activate an HNF-3 beta promoter reporter construct. The LF-H3 beta-C/EBP binding sequence also confers HNF-3 beta promoter stimulation in response to interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6. Upstream of this HNF-3 beta proximal promoter region, an IFN-stimulated response element core sequence (-231 to -210) was found that mediates transcriptional induction by IFN-gamma but not IFN-alpha. Gel mobility supershift assay demonstrates that an IFN-gamma-induced protein-DNA complex is disrupted by an antibody specific for interferon regulatory factor-1/interferon-stimulated gene factor-2. Consistent with this finding, we observed that IFN-gamma induction requires ongoing protein synthesis. Surprisingly, the effect of the three cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, and IFN-gamma) in combination as assayed by the same model is not synergistic. HNF-3beta joins the C/EBP family on the list of liver-enriched transcription factors, the expression of which is modulated by cytokines.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1990

Interferon-alpha regulates nuclear translocation and DNA-binding affinity of ISGF3, a multimeric transcriptional activator.

The interaction of interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) with a specific cell-surface receptor elicits physiological changes that rely on rapid transcriptional activation of a group of IFN-alpha-stimulated genes (ISGs). The IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE), a conserved regulatory element of all ISGs, is the target for transcriptional activation by the positive regulator IFN-stimulated gene factor-3 (ISGF3). We reported previously that post-translational activation of ISGF3 in the cytoplasm of IFN-alpha-treated cells requires two cytoplasmic activities (ISGF3 alpha and ISGF3 gamma) to produce an ISRE-binding complex that accumulates in the nucleus. In this study, we show that these activities are actually distinct subunits of the ISGF3 complex, which associate through noncovalent interaction. Sedimentation analysis, protein renaturation, and photoaffinity cross-linking of enriched preparations of cytoplasmic ISGF3 alpha and ISGF3 gamma and of nuclear ISGF3 demonstrated that ISGF3 gamma was a 48-kD polypeptide with intrinsic, low-affinity DNA-binding activity. Four polypeptides of 48, 84, 91, and 113 kD bound to the ISRE in vitro; the larger three polypeptides most likely compose the ISGF3 alpha component. These ISGF3 alpha polypeptides were unable to bind DNA alone but formed a DNA-binding complex in conjunction with ISGF3 gamma. The resulting heteromeric complex had the same ISRE-binding specificity as the individual ISGF3 gamma polypeptide but approximately 25-fold higher affinity. Whereas ISGF3 gamma partitioned between the cytoplasm and nucleus in unstimulated cells, ISGF3 alpha was stimulated to translocate to the nucleus only following IFN-alpha treatment, resulting in preferential nuclear accumulation of both ISGF3 alpha and ISGF3 gamma as a stable ISGF3-ISRE complex. This regulated nuclear translocation of an activated transcription factor subunit maintained the specificity and rapidity of the IFN-alpha signaling pathway.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1996

Modulation of interferon (IFN)-inducible gene expression by retinoic acid. Up-regulation of STAT1 protein in IFN-unresponsive cells.

Interferons (IFN) and retinoids failed to inhibit the growth of a number of breast tumor cell lines. However, a combination of these two biological response modifiers significantly suppressed the cell growth at pharmacologically achievable doses. The molecular basis for such enhancement was investigated in MCF-7, a breast tumor cell line resistant to growth inhibition by IFN-beta. Pretreatment of cells with retinoic acid (RA) for 16 h followed by IFN-beta, but not the converse, induced cytotoxic effects in the cells. Continuous presence of RA was not necessary, although it enhanced the degree of cell death when present. Further analyses revealed that IFN-beta failed to activate IFN-stimulated gene transcription. However, IFN-beta strongly up-regulated the gene expression in RA-pretreated cells. Both IFN-beta- and IFN-gamma-inducible gene expression were enhanced via a modulation of the transcriptional factor IFN-stimulated gene factors-3 and GAF binding to respective cognate regulatory elements. STAT1 was undetectable in these cells prior to RA treatment. RA increased the levels of this crucial regulator, thereby restoring IFN responses. Thus, RA augmentation of STAT1 may be an early step in the cooperative anti-tumor effects of IFN and RA.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Application of genomic DNA affinity chromatography identifies multiple interferon-alpha-regulated Stat2 complexes.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha)-induced signal transduction is mediated by the phosphorylation-activation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins Stat1, Stat2, and Stat3. Previous studies have shown that these activated STATs dimerize to form four distinct STAT complexes which translocate to the nucleus and activates transcription by binding to specific promoter elements. The interferon-stimulated gene factor-3 (ISGF3) consists of Stat2 and Stat1 heterodimers in association with a DNA-binding protein, p48, that binds to the interferon stimulated response element. Homo-and heterodimers of Stat1 and Stat3 bind to the palindromic interferon response element (pIRE). In this report we demonstrate the utility of a biochemical procedure that we have developed, based on genomic DNA affinity chromatography, for the identification of IFN-alpha-induced STAT complexes. Using this approach, we identified ISGF3-independent Stat2-containing STAT complexes. Results from the analysis of Stat2 complexes in the electrophoretic mobility shift assay were consistent with genomic DNA affinity chromatography results and identified a Stat2:1 complex that binds with low affinity to the pIRE of the interferon regulatory factor-1 gene. Immunoprecipitation studies of Stat2 revealed an IFN-alpha dependent co-precipitation of both Stat1 and Stat3. Taken together, our results suggest that IFN-alpha activates, in addition to ISGF3, other Stat2-containing STAT complexes, one of which binds to an element related to the interferon regulatory factor-1 pIRE.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Chicken-embryo fibroblasts produce two types of interferon upon stimulation with Newcastle disease virus.

Controversy has long surrounded the question of whether chickens, like mammals, can produce two types of interferon (IFN). Recently, type-I and type-II chicken IFNs have been cloned. Our study focuses on the further characterization of native fibroblast and spleen IFNs and shows that chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEFs) produce a mixture of type-I and type-II IFNs. IFN was purified by three different methods, controlled pore-glass chromatography, ion-exchange chromatography and preparative SDS-PAGE. Three protein bands showing IFN-like anti-viral activity, from CEFs which had been virus-stimulated for IFN production, were detected at 25, 27 and 29 kDa. Polyclonal antibodies produced against these bands showed partial cross-reaction with purified media from mitogen-stimulated spleen cells in ELISA, western blot analysis and anti-viral activity neutralization assay. Differences between purified conditioned media from CEF and spleen were found with respect to the stimulation of macrophages for nitric oxide production, pH stability and signal transduction pathways; only CEF IFN activated the IFN-stimulated gene factor-3 complex, whereas both CEF and spleen IFNs activated the IFN regulatory factor-1 gene. These findings concur with the differences that are known to exist between mammalian type-I and type-II IFNs. Attempts at sequencing the 25 and 27 kDa proteins by Edman degradation yielded evidence of N-terminal blockage.

Animals↗

PubMed1997

Structural and functional analysis of the promoter region of the human MCP-3 gene: transactivation of expression by novel recognition sequences adjacent to the transcription initiation site.

Human monocyte chemotactic factor-3 (MCP-3) belongs to the C-C chemokines, which are cytokines involved in cell recruitment in inflammation and cancer. Northern blotting and reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses showed that the MCP-3 gene is expressed in many human tissues and tumor cell lines and that the expression level is increased by various stimuli. Measles virus and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) induced MCP-3 mRNA after 6 hr of stimulation. Interferon-beta (IFN-beta) induced MCP-3 mRNA after 16 hr, a time point when the PMA-induced mRNA had the tendency to level off. No significant increase in MCP-3 mRNA levels was observed in MG-63 cells after stimulation with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta). To elucidate the regulation of MCP-3 gene expression, we determined the sequence of 5 kb of the MCP-3 promoter. This sequence contained a microsatellite that was shown to be polymorphic in various cell lines. Next 5'-deletion mutants of the promoter were generated and transfected into MG-63 cells, demonstrating the presence of several positive and negative transcriptional regulatory elements. One of the positive elements was located at -37, only 21 bp upstream from the TATAA box. This element was similar to an AP-1 element and also to a homeodomain protein Pbx1 binding site. A deletion mutant from -110 to +52 possessed the highest promoter activity, and the longer deletion mutants had relatively low activities. The region between -190 and -172 contained an Ets-like element and inhibited promoter activity. Stimulation with PMA dramatically increased promoter activity through activation of a positive element present between -172 and -100. The same 5'-deletion mutants were transfected into HeLa and Jurkat cells. None of the deletion mutants had any significant activity in Jurkat cells. In HeLa cells, low levels of MCP-3 mRNA were detected by RT-PCR, but the profile of the promoter activities of the deletion mutants was different from that seen in MG-63 cells.

Base Sequence↗