A common single nucleotide polymorphism in the CD14 promoter decreases the affinity of Sp protein binding and enhances transcriptional activity

T. D. LeVan, J. W. Bloom, T. J. Bailey, C. L. Karp, M. Halonen, F. D. Martinez, D. Vercelli

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

299 Scopus citations

Abstract

CD14 is a pattern recognition receptor that plays a central role in innate immunity through recognition of bacterial lipoglycans, primarily LPS. Recently, our group has identified a common single nucleotide polymorphism, -159C→T, in the CD14 proximal promoter. Homozygous carriers of the T allele have a significant increase in soluble CD14, but a decreased total serum IgE. This epidemiologic evidence led us to investigate the molecular basis for the effects of CD14/-159C→T on CD14 regulation in monocytes and hepatocytes, the two major cell types known to express this gene in vivo. EMSA analysis showed that the T allele results in decreased affinity of DNA/protein interactions at a GC box that contains a binding site for Sp1, Sp2, and Sp3 transcription factors. In reporter assays, the transcriptional activity of the T allele was increased in monocytic Mono Mac 6 cells, which express low levels of Sp3, a member of the Sp family with inhibitory potential relative to activating Sp1 and Sp2. By contrast, both alleles were transcribed equivalently in Sp3-rich hepatocytic HepG2 cells. Our data indicate that the interplay between CD14 promoter affinity and the [Sp3]:[Sp1 + Sp2] ratio plays a critical mechanistic role in regulating transcription of the two CD14 alleles. Variation in a key gene of innate immunity may be important for the pathogenesis of allergy and inflammatory disease through gene-by-gene and/or gene-by-environment interactions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)5838-5844
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Immunology
Volume167
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 15 2001

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Immunology and Allergy
  • Immunology

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