Multiple elements in the promoter of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor gene regulate its constitutive expression in human carcinoma cells.

Some human carcinoma cells constitutively produce granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) which stimulates the proliferation and differentiation of the progenitor cells of neutrophilic granulocytes. By introducing mouse G-CSF chromosomal gene or its promoter DNA into human carcinoma cell lines of CHU-2, SK-HEP-1, and U-87MG, it was shown that the constitutive expression of G-CSF in these carcinoma cells was due to the intrinsic activation of nuclear factors which work on the promoter region of the G-CSF gene. A series of 5' deletion mutants, linker scanning mutants, and internal deletion mutants was constructed in the promoter of mouse G-CSF gene and was introduced into human CHU-2 cells to analyze their promoter activities. These studies demonstrated that at least three regulatory elements in the promoter of the G-CSF gene are essential for the constitutive expression of G-CSF in CHU-2 cells. These elements include the consensus decanucleotide "GAGRTTCCA/CC" present on G-CSF, granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and interleukin 3 genes and the "ATTTGCAT" octamer transcription factor binding site. Some point mutations in these consensus sequences significantly diminished the promoter activity in CHU-2 cells.