A novel STAT-like factor mediates lipopolysaccharide, interleukin 1 (IL-1), and IL-6 signaling and recognizes a gamma interferon activation site-like element in the IL1B gene.

Binding of many cytokines to their cognate receptors immediately activates Jak tyrosine kinases and their substrates, STAT (signal transducers and activators of transcription) DNA-binding proteins. The DNA binding targets of STATs are sequence elements related to the archetypal gamma interferon activation site, GAS. However, association of interleukin 1 (IL-1) with Jak-STAT signaling has remained unresolved. We now report an element termed LILRE (lipopolysaccharide [LPS] and IL-1-responsive element) in the human prointerleukin 1beta gene (IL1B) which can be immediately induced by either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or IL-1 protein to bind a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein. This LPS- and IL-1-induced factor (LIL factor) is recognized by an antibody raised against the N terminus of Stat1, but not by those specific for either the C terminus of Stat1 or any other GAS-binding STAT. Phosphotyrosine (P-Tyr) specifically inhibits formation of the LIL factor-DNA complex, suggesting the importance of P-Tyr for the DNA-binding activity, as has been found for all STAT dimers. Analysis of DNA-binding specificity demonstrates that the LIL factor possesses a novel GAS-like binding activity that contrasts with those of other STATs in a requirement for a G residue at position 8 (TTCCTGAGA). Further investigation has revealed that IL-6, but neither IL-4 nor gamma interferon, activates the LIL factor. Thus, the existence of such a STAT-like factor (LIL-Stat) relates the LPS and IL-1 signaling pathway to other cytokine receptor signaling pathways via the activation of STATs. Moreover, the unique DNA-binding specificity and antigenicity of this factor suggest that LPS, IL-1, and IL-6 may use a common signaling pathway.