FUNCTIONAL-ANALYSIS OF THE PREPROENDOTHELIN-1 GENE PROMOTER IN PULMONARY EPITHELIAL-CELLS AND MONOCYTES

At least two human preproendothelin-1 mRNAs are produced by a single g ene through the use of different promoters, and the mechanisms control ling the production of these alternative transcripts might be cell-spe cific. In human lung, endothelin-l is produced by vascular endothelial cells, bronchial epithelial cells, and pulmonary monocytes/macrophage s. Given the important role of endothelin-l in the pathogenesis of som e pulmonary diseases, we carried out a functional analysis of the prep roendothelin-l gene promoter(s) in bronchial epithelial cells and lung monocytes. Two distinct preproendothelin-l mRNAs were expressed in th e two cell populations. Using deletion mutants and enhancer trap trans fection experiments, we also identified different regions of the prepr oendothelin-l gene necessary for endothelin-l expression in bronchial epithelial cells and pulmonary monocytes. (C) 1996 Academic Press, Inc .