Regulation of transcriptional activity of the murine CD40 ligand promoter in response to signals through TCR and the costimulatory molecules CD28 and CD2.

We have analyzed the murine CD40 ligand promoter with regard to stimulation of transcriptional activity in Jurkat T cells after signaling via the TCR and the costimulatory molecules CD28 and CD2. TCR engagement was necessary for the induction of transcriptional activity from the CD40 ligand promoter, and costimulation through either CD28 or CD2 further increased the activity. Analysis of promoter deletants showed that the DNA elements needed for transcriptional activity induced by costimulatory molecules were located within two regions containing previously identified transcription factor NFAT sites. Further studies of the proximal NFAT site showed that it was not dependent on AP-1 binding for transcriptional activity induced by costimulation through CD28. Instead, a region between the TATA box and the proximal NFAT site was shown to bind proteins of the early growth response family and to contribute to NFAT-mediated transcriptional activation.