title: Characterization of the promoter for vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1).
abstract: Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was first identified as a protein that appears on the surface of endothelial cells after exposure to inflammatory cytokines. Through interaction with its integrin counter receptor VLA-4, VCAM-1 mediates cell-cell interactions important for immune function. We have cloned and begun characterization of the promoter for the VCAM-1 gene. In a series of transfection assays into human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), we find that silencers between positions -1.641 kilobases and -288 base pairs restrict promoter activity, and that treatment with tumor necrosis factor-alpha overcomes this inhibition and activates the promoter through two NF kappa B sites located at positions -77 and -63 base pairs of the VCAM-1 gene. This responsiveness appears cell-specific since constructs containing the VCAM-1 NF kappa B sites are not responsive to tumor necrosis factor alpha in the T-cell line Jurkat. The two VCAM-1 NF kappa B sites, which differ slightly in their sequence, form distinct complexes in gel retardation assays, suggesting that they interact with different NF kappa B-site binding proteins. The distribution of these proteins could then control activity of the NF kappa B sites. We conclude that the pattern of VCAM-1 expression in HUVECs is controlled by a combination of these silencers and NF kappa B sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri 63110.
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Iademarco
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: McQuillan
authors.forename: G D
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Dean
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules / Q000235:genetics*; D002460:Cell Line; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology*; D015698:Genomic Library; D006801:Humans; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012313:RNA / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis / Q000096:biosynthesis; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000494:pharmacology; D014471:Umbilical Veins; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
chemical_list: D015815:Cell Adhesion Molecules; D007375:Interleukin-1; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009838:Oligodeoxyribonucleotides; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D012313:RNA