The MHC class II E beta promoter: a complex arrangement of positive and negative elements determines B cell and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) regulated expression.

The 5' proximal region of the E beta gene was studied with respect to B lymphoid expression and responsiveness to cytokines, revealing a complex array of general and cell type specific cis-elements and factors. Full lymphoid activity and response to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) is generated by the concerted action of the MHC boxes (H, X and Y) and additional elements. Combinatorial interactions between elements and their cognate factors are indicated by several lines of evidence. Thus, mutations within the X box in the promoter context are strongly deleterious to both B lymphoid activity and IFN-gamma regulation. However, the X box alone has minimal lymphoid activity upon heterologous promoters. Data from deletion, insertion and site directed mutagenesis demonstrate that sequences extending approximately 35 bp 5' of the X box (designated as Cytokine Response Sequence--CRS) have a dual role: they are required for cytokine-regulated expression as well as serving as an enhancer element for cell-specific constitutive expression. A region that carries X and CRS permits both lymphoid activity and IFN-gamma response. In contrast, sequences that include X and the downstream Y box are constitutively active in all cell types tested. Combination of the sequences both upstream and downstream of the X box results in a tissue-specific and cytokine-regulated enhancer of full strength. In vivo competition studies show that titratable trans-acting factors, shared by Class I and Class II promoters, mediate the CRS-dependent IFN-gamma response. We report here the identification of novel nuclear complexes that bind to the CRS and recognize sites which correlate with its negative or positive elements. One of these complexes is present in B lymphoid cells only. Three other CRS complexes that are upregulated by either IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma are competed by a non-Class II, IFN-alpha stimulated response element (ISRE), providing evidence for the functional interconnection of these cytokines.