Human CD94 gene expression: dual promoters differing in responsiveness to IL-2 or IL-15

CD94 is a C-type lectin required for the dimerization of the CD94/NKG2 family of receptors, which are expressed on NK cells and T cell subsets. Little is known about CD94 gene expression and the elements that regulate CD94 transcription. In this study, we report that CD94 gene expression is regulated by distal and proximal promoters that transcribe unique initial exons specific to each promoter. This results in two species of transcripts; the previously described CD94 mRNA and a novel CD94C mRNA. All NK cells and CD94(+), CD8(+) alphabeta T cells transcribe CD94 mRNA. Stimulation of NK and CD8(+) alphabeta T cells with IL-2 or IL-15 induced the transcription of CD94C mRNA. The distal and proximal promoters both contain elements with IFN-gamma-activated and Ets binding sites, known as GAS/EBS. Additionally, an unknown element, termed site A, was identified in the proximal promoter. EMSA analyses showed that constitutive factors could bind to oligonucleotide probes containing each element. After treatment of primary NK cells with IL-2 or IL-15, separate inducible complexes could be detected with oligonucleotide probes containing either the proximal or distal GAS/EBS elements. These elements are highly conserved between mice and humans, which suggests that both species regulate CD94 gene expression via mechanisms that predate their evolutionary divergence.