Activation of the interleukin-4 gene is controlled by the unique calcineurin-dependent transcriptional factor NF(P).

Cyclosporin A-sensitive promoter activity that is induced by the T cell antigen receptor was identified in the region between base pairs -147 and -17 of the mouse interleukin (IL)-4 gene. Here, we identify a transcriptional factor, NF(P), that binds a sequence from -75 to -69 (ATTTTCC) of the mouse IL-4 gene which corresponds to the human IL-4 gene P sequence. Expression of NF(P) was associated with positive regulation of the IL-4 gene and cyclosporin A sensitivity. The P sequence is homologous to the binding site for the positive transcriptional regulator of the IL-2 gene nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). Binding of NF(P) to the P sequence was completely inhibited by an oligonucleotide corresponding to the NFAT binding site. Like NFAT, NF(P) was also found in the cytosol of resting T cells but translocated to the nucleus via a cyclosporin A-sensitive mechanism after T cell activation. Overexpression of a constitutively active calcineurin caused translocation of NF(P) from the cytosol to the nucleus. NF(P) purified on an oligonucleotide affinity column was 90 kDa, which is smaller than the 120-kDa reported for cNFAT. Purified NF(P) did not bind the NFAT consensus sequence, even in the presence of AP-1 protein. Our results suggest that the NF(P) molecule is not identical to the cNFAT molecule.