Methods for measuring stromelysin-1 promoter activity

This invention relates to a human stromelysin-1 (i.e., HSL-1) promoter and uses therefor. In particular, the invention relates to a purified DNA containing a functional HSL-1 promoter region that corresponds in structure to the native genomic form of this promoter, to an expression vector containing a portion of the purified promoter DNA operatively linked to a heterologous DNA sequence encoding a detectable gene product, and to the use of a host cell carrying the expression vector for drug screening and other pharmaceutical applications. This invention relates to a human stromelysin-1 (i.e., HSL-1) promoter and uses therefor. In particular, the invention provides a purified DNA containing a functional HSL-1 promoter region that corresponds in structure to the native genomic form of this promoter, an expression vector containing a portion of the purified promoter DNA operatively linked to a heterologous DNA sequence encoding a detectable gene product, a host cell transformed with this factor, a pharmacologic screening assay for stromelysin-1 promoter modulating activity, and a method-of modulating TNF level and matrix metalloproteinase activities in inflamed tissues of a mammal.