PU.1 regulates glutathione peroxidase expression in neutrophils

Based on knockout models, the transcription factor PU.1 has been shown to be important for the maturation of neutrophils. As the list of genes PU.1 directly regulates in neutrophils is still quite limited, defining PU.1 target genes for this lineage will provide valuable insight into how this factor regulates neutrophil development and terminal function. Using the combined techniques of representational difference analysis and a cDNA library screen, we identified four genes that were differentially expressed in the PU.1-expressing 503PU myeloid cell line but not the PU.1 null parent cell line 503. Two of these genes, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and serine leukoprotease inhibitor, are involved in protecting neutrophils from the products they make to destroy pathogens and were analyzed further to determine if PU.1 directly regulates their expression. These studies showed that PU.1 directly regulated the expression of only the GPx gene through binding sites in the promoter and a 3' regulatory region. Thus, PU.1 not only regulates the expression of molecules involved in the production of reactive oxygen species but also a gene that protects the neutrophils from these same destructive enzymes.