A novel polymorphism in the MCP-1 gene regulatory region that influences MCP-1 expression

Two novel polymorphisms in the distal regulatory region of the MCP-1 gene were identified by directly sequencing PCR amplified genomic DNA. These polymorphisms are located at positions -2518 (G or A) and -2076 (A or T) relative to the major transcriptional start site of the gene. To examine the effect of these polymorphisms on MCP-1 transcription, polymorphic variants of the MCP-1 distal regulatory region were placed upstream of a luciferase reporter gene and transfected into A172 cells. IL-1β-induced luciferase activity was significantly greater from cells transfected with constructs containing G at position -2518. The polymorphism at -2076 did not affect MCP-1 transcription. IL-1β-treated peripheral blood mononuclear cells from individuals heterozygous or homozygous for G at -2518 produced more MCP-1 than cells from individuals homozygous for A at -2518. These data identify a polymorphism in the MCP-1 distal regulatory region that affects the level of MCP-1 expression in response to an inflammatory stimulus.