Hein, H; Schlueter, C; Kulke, R; Christophers, E; Schroeder, J; Bartels, J*

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications [Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun.], vol. 255, no. 2, pp. 470-476, 16 Feb 1999

The eosinophil chemotactic beta -chemokine MCP-4 is assumed to be involved in the accumulation of eosinophils characteristic for eosinophilic inflammatory diseases. We here describe the genomic organisation (3 exons of 138, 115 and 578 bp, 2 introns of 867 and 437 bp and 1.4 kb of regulatory sequences from the immediate 5' upstream region), sequence (genomic and transcribed) and mRNA expression of the human MCP-4 gene in dermal fibroblasts. Among the promoter elements potentially regulating MCP-4 gene expression and /or mediating the effects of anti-inflammatory drugs we identified consensus sequences known to interact with nuclear factors like NF-IL6, AP-2, a NF- Kappa B like consensus sequence, gamma -interferon- response and YY-1 elements as well as glucocorticoid response elements. Like MCP-3, MCP-4 mRNA expression in dermal fibroblasts is upregulated by TNF- alpha , IL-1 alpha , IFN- gamma or IL-4 and differs from RANTES and eotaxin mRNA expression in its response to IFN- gamma and/or IL-4.