REGULATION OF THE HUMAN C-REACTIVE PROTEIN GENE IN TRANSGENIC MICE

Human C-reactive protein (hCRP) is a major acute-phase reactant in man . The regulation of the hCRP gene in transgenic mice is similar to tha t in humans. To map DNA regions required for the correct regulation of the hCRP gene, several constructs have been generated, and their expr ession in transgenic mice has been analyzed. Constructs lacking DNA re gions surrounding the poly(A) site of the gene are not expressed eithe r before or after induction in transgenic mice. Minimal regions 540 ba se pairs upstream and 1.2 kilobases downstream of the hCRP gene are su fficient for liver-specific expression. Extended 5'- and 3'-flanking r egions are required to silence the expression prior to induction. Our findings demonstrate that regulatory sequences shown to confer inducib le expression of the hCRP gene in hepatoma cell lines are insufficient in transgenic mice.