Interleukin-1β induction of the chemokine RANTES promoter in the human astrocytoma line CH235 requires both constitutive and inducible transcription factors

The chemokine RANTES is an important mediator of inflammatory processes. In this report, we describe the DNA sequence and transcription factor requirements for interleukin-1β (IL-1β) induction of the RANTES promoter in the human astrocytoma line CH235. RANTES promoter sequences between -278 and +55 are sufficient for IL-1β-inducibility. In vitro DNA binding assays demonstrate constitutive binding of Sp1, HMG, Ets domain, and bZIP family members to their cognate sites in the RANTES promoter, whereas NF-κB and IRF-1 bind in an IL-1β-inducible manner. IL-1β-inducibility of the RANTES promoter requires both constitutive and inducible transcription factors. The formation of a higher order nucleoprotein complex, or 'enhanceosome', may be critical for IL-1β induction of the RANTES promoter. Copyright (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V.