Identification of a promoter element that regulates tissue-specific expression of the human CD80 (B7.1) gene

We isolated the promoter region of the gene encoding human CD80 to examine for elements responsible for the regulated expression of this important costimulatory molecule. Using CAT reporter constructs containing a heterologous general enhancer, we demonstrate that the CD80 promoter is active in CD80-expressing Raji cells, but has no significant activity in Jurkat cells that are CD80 negative. Transcriptional activity in Raji increases as the promoter is truncated from nucleotide position -906 to -84. However, truncation of this promoter to -41 significantly decreases its activity. Within this region is one stretch of DNA that is protected in DNase I footprint analysis and that shows some sequence similarity to the NF-kappaB element. Site-specific mutation of the 5' purine-rich portion of this element (B7-RE, or B7 regulatory element) abrogates expression. Nuclear extracts prepared from Raji, or from leukemic cells induced to express CD80, form a distinct complex(es) with B7-RE in electromobility shift assays. Moreover, a consensus NF-kappaB oligonucleotide can compete with B7-RE for nuclear extract binding. However, no super-shifted bands are observed when extracts are preincubated with Abs to p50, p65, or other Rel proteins. Moreover, we find that recombinant p49 (RelB), p50, p65 (RelA), or p49/p65 heterodimers do not bind B7-RE in vitro. These data indicate that B7-RE may help govern expression of genes independent of a tissue-specific enhancer and that this element is bound by nuclear factor(s) other than those that commonly bind NF-kappaB.