Superinduction of the human interferon-beta promoter.

Superinduction, that is induction with simultaneous blocking of mRNA translation, enhances the induction of interferon-beta in response to virus or double-stranded RNA in human fibroblasts. Expression of the cloned IFN-beta gene upon transfer into heterologous cells reflects the endogeneous interferon expression with respect to induction or superinduction indicating the involvement of cellular mediators in this mode of gene regulation. Expression from gene hybrids in mouse Mo57/2 cells reveals that 5' flanking DNA sequences from the human IFN-beta gene are responsible for induction and superinduction. Superinduction of the human IFN-beta promoter is demonstrated in several rodent and primate cell lines. In addition, expression from promoter mutants in mouse cells indicates that DNA sequences responsible for induction and superinduction are identical.