title: c-rel regulation of IL-2 gene expression may be mediated through activation of AP-1.
abstract: T cell activation by antigen/MHC induces the expression of several genes critical to the immune response, including interleukin-2. T cells from mice deficient for the NF-kappa B family member c-rel cannot activate IL-2 gene expression. However, mutating the NF-kappa B site in the IL-2 promoter has only moderate effects. To investigate additional ways c-Rel could regulate IL-2 gene expression, we determined whether c-rel overexpression could increase the activity of other transcription factors involved in IL-2 promoter regulation: NF-AT, Oct/OAP (ARRE-1), and AP-1. In Jurkat TAg cells, overexpression of c-Rel increased AP-1 activation approximately 17-fold. Moreover, AP-1 activity stimulated by anti-TCR Abs or PMA/ionomycin was further increased by c-Rel overexpression. c-Rel overexpression did not affect NF-AT or ARRE-1 activity. Additionally, overexpression of c-Rel activated the nonconsensus AP-1 site from the IL-2 promoter (NF-IL-2B), although to a lesser extent, approximately sixfold. AP-1 activation required both the DNA binding and transactivation domains of c-Rel. Our results may provide an explanation for the effect on IL-2 gene activation in c-rel-deficient mice.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, California 94143, USA.
authors.forename: V S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Shapiro
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Mollenauer
authors.forename: W C
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Greene
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001665:Binding Sites; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D051379:Mice; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020569:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-rel; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D014157:Transcription Factors; D004247:DNA