HLA-DRB1 may be antagonistically regulated by the coordinately evolved promoter and 3'-UTR under stabilizing selection.
HLA-DRB1 is the most polymorphic MHC (major histocompatibility complex) class II gene in human, and plays a crucial role in the development and function of the immune system. Extensive polymorphisms exist in the promoter and 3'-UTR of HLA-DRB1, especially a LTR (Long terminal repeat) element in the promoter, which may be involved in the expression regulation. However, it remains unknown how the polymorphisms in the whole promoter region and 3'-UTR to regulate the gene expression. In this study, we investigated the extensive polymorphisms in the HLA-DRB1 promoter and 3'-UTR, and how these polymorphisms affect the gene expression in both independent and jointly manners. It was observed that most of the haplotypes in the DRB1 promoter and 3'-UTR were clustered into 4 conserved lineages (H1, H2, H3 and H4), and showed high linkage disequilibrium. Compared with H1 and H2 lineage, a LTR element in the promoter of H3 and H4 lineage significantly suppressed the promoter activity, whereas the activity of the linked 3'-UTR increased, leading to no apparent difference in the final expression product between H1/H2 and H3/H4 lineage. Nevertheless, compared with the plasmid with a promoter and 3'-UTR from the same lineage, the recombinant plasmid with a promoter from H2 and a 3'-UTR from H3 showed about double fold increased luciferase activity, Conversely, the recombinant plasmid with a promoter from H3 and a 3'-UTR from H2 resulted in about 2-fold decreased luciferase activity. These results indicate that the promoter and 3'-UTR of HLA-DRB1 may antagonistically regulate the gene expression, which may be subjected to stabilizing selection. These findings may provide a novel insight into the mechanisms of the diseases associated with HLA-DRB1 genes.
State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Department of Biochemistry, College of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen (Zhongshan) University, Guangzhou, People's Republic of China.
Benrong
B
Liu
Yonggui
Y
Fu
Zhifen
Z
Wang
Sisi
S
Zhou
Yu
Y
Sun
Yuping
Y
Wu
Anlong
A
Xu
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions / Q000235:genetics*; D019143:Evolution, Molecular; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains / Q000235:genetics*; D006239:Haplotypes / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012641:Selection, Genetic; D017421:Sequence Analysis; D020079:Terminal Repeat Sequences / Q000235:genetics
D020413:3' Untranslated Regions; D059811:HLA-DRB1 Chains