Ets family transcription factor ESE-1 is expressed in corneal epithelial cells and is involved in their differentiation

Involvement of an epithelium-specific transcription factor ESE-1/ESX/ELF3/j en (ESE-1) in corneal epithelial cell differentiation was investigated. ESE -1 was reported to be induced during terminal differentiation of the epider mis and primary keratinocytes and to transactivate target genes through ets binding sites. However, its expression and function in corneal epithelium have not been examined. We report here that ESE-1 is upregulated upon diffe rentiation in mouse corneal epithelium and in immortalized human corneal ep ithelial cells (HCE). ESE-1 transactivates through the regulatory element o f cornea-specific K12 keratin. Moreover, introduction of ESE-1 antisense RN A in HCE cells affect their differentiation. These data suggest the involve ment of ESE-1 in differentiation of corneal epithelial cells. (C) 2000 Else vier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.