Identification of two NF-kappa B sites in mouse CD95 ligand (Fas ligand) promoter: functional analysis in T cell hybridoma.

Fas ligand (FasL) gene expression is critically involved in peripheral T cell tolerance and lymphocyte homeostasis. Previous studies have suggested that nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB during T cell activation is a critical event for FasL gene activation. In the present study we have identified two NF-kappaB sites (designated FasL-kappaB1 and FasL-kappaB2) on the promoter (approximately 700 bp) of FasL. The NF-kappaB sites were identified by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Transient transfection reporter analyses showed that the FasL promoter activity was comparable between a construct that contains both sites and a shorter construct (433 bp) that contains only the FasL-kappaB1 site. Furthermore, elimination of FasL-kappaB1 by site-directed mutagenesis significantly inhibited FasL promoter activity. These observations provide strong evidence that NF-kappaB directly binds to the FasL-kappaB1 site and up-regulates FasL gene expression.