Regulatory sequences and protein-binding sites involved in the expression of the rat plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene

Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) is a serine protease inhibitor that inhibits both tissue-type and urokinase-type plasminogen activators. Expression of PAI-1 is regulated by growth factors, cytokines, and hormones. To determine the molecular mechanisms involved in the basal expression of the rat PAI-1 gene, we have analyzed the cis-acting sequences and the trans-acting factors involved in the transcription of this gene in the HTC rat hepatoma cell line. DNase I protection analyses revealed eight regions within the first 764 base pairs of 5'-flanking sequence that interact specifically with HTC cell nuclear proteins. The proteins that bind to five of the eight footprinted sites were identified as PEA3-, Sp1-, and CTF/NF-1-like proteins using competition electrophoretic mobility shift assays. The expression of fusion genes containing progressive 5' deletions of the rat PAI-1 promoter linked to the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase reporter gene were analyzed in transient transfection experiments in HTC cells. These studies demonstrated the Sp1 and CTF/NF-1 sites to be important for transcriptional activation. Two of the footprinted sites contain the sequence 5'-TTTGn(n)TCAAT-3' and were shown in competition electrophoretic mobility shift assays to bind the same or related protein(s). Sequences containing these sites, from -764 to -628 base pairs, and from -266 to -188 base pairs, were identified in functional studies as repressor elements of transcription.