title: A 30-base pair element is responsible for the myeloid-specific activity of the human neutrophil elastase promoter.
abstract: Human neutrophil elastase (HNE), a serine protease, is expressed only in the promyelocytic stages of granulocyte maturation. We examined several regions of the promoter for transcriptional activity and report that a 30-base pair (bp) element located between -76 and -106 in the 5'-flanking region of HNE is sufficient for myeloid-specific expression of HNE. Gel shift assays using nuclear extracts from myeloid and non-myeloid cells reveal several myeloid-specific complexes binding to the 30-bp element. Examination of DNA-protein interactions shows that at least two myeloid-specific proteins of 38 and 55 kDa bind to this element. DNase I protection analysis reveals two distinct footprints between -80 to -91 and -94 to -104 within this element. Transient expression studies using deletion constructs of the HNE 5'-flanking region show that the 30-bp element is active in myeloid cells K 562 and U 937 but not in HeLa cells. Internal deletion of this element results in a 60-85% loss of promoter activity in myeloid cells. Additional functional studies also show that a 19-bp region between -112 and -131 contributes to transcriptional activity of the elastase promoter as well.
authors.affiliation: Medical Research, Birmingham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Alabama.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Srikanth
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Rado
mesh_terms: D001482:Base Composition; D001483:Base Sequence; D001853:Bone Marrow / Q000378:metabolism; D001854:Bone Marrow Cells; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004247:DNA; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; D010196:Pancreatic Elastase; D019272:Leukocyte Elastase