IRF-1-binding site in the first intron mediates interferon-γ-induced optineurin promoter activation

•IRF-1 is a strong activator of optineurin promoter.•IRF-1-binding site is present in the first intron of optineurin gene.•Interferon-γ-induced optineurin promoter activation requires IRF-1 site.•IRF-1 and NF-κB cooperate to induce optineurin promoter activation.

Optineurin is an adaptor protein involved in signal transduction, membrane vesicle trafficking and autophagy. Optineurin expression is induced by cytokines. Previously we have shown that tumor necrosis factor-α activates optineurin promoter through NF-κB-binding site in the core promoter. However, this promoter was not activated by interferon-γ. Here, we report identification of a functional IRF-1-binding site in the first intron of human optineurin gene that mediates interferon-γ-induced activation of the promoter. Optineurin promoter, containing the contiguous intronic sequences with IRF-1 responsive sites, is strongly activated by IRF-1. Mutational inactivation of IRF-1 site resulted in loss of activation of the promoter by interferon-γ and also by IRF-1. We also show that IRF-1 cooperates with NF-κB to activate optineurin promoter. The synergistic effect of these two transcription factors (IRF-1 and NF-κB) may be involved in cooperative induction of optineurin promoter by interferon-γ and tumor necrosis factor-α.