Identification of cis-acting elements and signaling components of high affinity IgE receptor that regulate the expression of cyclooxygenase-2.

Allergic and inflammatory responses are functionally linked through a cascade of signaling events that connect the aggregation of the high affinity IgE receptor (FcεRI) on mast cells and the initiation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression. In this study, we identified the cis-acting elements in the cox-2 promoter that control the expression of COX-2 in RBL-2H3 mast cells. We also investigated how the inflammatory reaction is controlled by the allergic reaction by determining the signaling components employed by FcεRI in the transcriptional regulation of cox-2. Among cis-acting components present in the cox-2 promoter, the CREB binding site, as well as the AP-1 and proximal NF-IL6 binding sites to a lesser extent, were required for the transcriptional regulation of the cox-2 promoter. However, NF-κB and Ets-1 binding sites exerted negative effects on the cox-2 promoter activity. Among the signaling components of FcεRI, Fyn, PI 3-kinase, Akt, and p38 MAPK positively mediated the COX-2 expression. Conventional PKCs and atypical PKCs exerted opposite regulatory effects on the cox-2 promoter activity. Blockade of MEK/ERK pathway inhibited the cox-2 promoter activity and the COX-2 expression. These results reveal intricate functional interactions among different cis-acting elements in the transcriptional regulation of cox-2. Fyn-->PI 3-kinase-->Akt pathway directly stimulate. On the other hand, Lyn-->Syk pathway exerts auxiliary or compensatory influences on COX-2 expression via PKC and MEK/ERK.