Two distinct gamma interferon-inducible promoters of the major histocompatibility complex class II transactivator gene are differentially regulated by STAT1, interferon regulatory factor 1, and transforming growth factor beta.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II transactivator (CIITA) is the master regulatory factor required for appropriate expression of class II MHC genes. Understanding the expression of CIITA is key to understanding the regulation of class II MHC genes. This report describes the independent regulation of two distinct CIITA promoters by cytokines with opposing functions, gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta). A functional analysis of deletion mutations of the upstream promoter (promoter III) identified an IFN-gamma-responsive region located approximately 5 kb from the transcriptional start site. An in vivo DNase I hypersensitivity analysis detected a hypersensitive site in this area which supports the relevance of this region. When the downstream promoter (promoter IV) was studied by in vivo genomic footprinting, IFN-gamma-induced changes at putative binding sites for STAT1, interferon regulatory factor 1 (IRF-1), and E-box proteins were seen. Gel shift and supershift analyses for IRF-1 confirmed the in vivo footprint results. The role of the IFN-gamma-inducible transcription factor STAT1 was examined functionally. Although both promoters were controlled by STAT1, promoter-specific regulation was exhibited. The IFN-gamma response of promoter III was completely dependent on STAT1 and not IRF-1, while promoter IV was partially activated by IRF-1 in the total absence of STAT1 expression. While both promoters were affected by TGF-beta, activation of promoter III by IFN-gamma was more severely diminished by TGF-beta treatment. The differential control of CIITA promoters by TGF-beta, IRF-1, and STAT1 may be important in refining regulation of class II MHC genes in different cell types and under different stimulatory conditions.