The Basis for IL-2-Induced IL-2 Receptor α Chain Gene Regulation: Importance of Two Widely Separated IL-2 Response Elements

Abstract

The interleukin-2 receptor α (IL-2Rα) chain is an essential component of high-affinity IL-2 receptors. Accordingly, IL-2Rα expression helps to regulate T cell growth and other lymphoid functions. Lineage-restricted and activation-dependent IL-2Rα transcription is controlled by three upstream positive regulatory regions (PRRs). We now describe an additional IL-2 response element, PRRIV, within intron 1, in humans and mice. PRRIV activity requires GAS motifs that bind Stat5 proteins and additional upstream HMG-I(Y) binding sites. Moreover, IL-2 induces the binding of HMG-I(Y), Stat5a, and Stat5b in vivo to PRRIV and PRRIII, which also functions as an IL-2 response element. Thus, the IL-2 inducibility of the IL-2Rα gene is unexpectedly mediated by two widely separated regulatory Stat5-dependent elements, located both upstream and downstream of the transcription initiation sites.