Sp1/Sp3 and PU.1 differentially regulate β₅ integrin gene expression in macrophages and osteoblasts

Murine osteoclast precursors and osteoblasts express the integrin α(v)β₅, the appearance of which on the cell surface is controlled by the β₅, and not the α(v), subunit. Here, we show that a 173-base pair proximal region of the β₅ promoter mediates β₅ basal transcription in macrophage (osteoclast precursor)-like and osteoblast-like cells. DNase I footprinting reveal four regions (FP1-FP4) within the 173-base pair region, protected by macrophage nuclear extracts. In contrast, osteoblast nuclear extracts protect only FP1, FP2, and FP3. FP1, FP2, and FP3 bind Sp1 and Sp3 from both macrophage and osteoblast nuclear extracts. FP4 does not bind osteoblast proteins but binds PU.1 from macrophages. Transfection studies show that FP1 and FP2 Sp1/Sp3 sites act as enhancers in both MC3T3-E1 (osteoblast-like) and J774 (macrophage-like) cell lines, whereas the FP3 Sp1/Sp3 site serves as a silencer. Mutation of the FP2 Sp1/Sp3 site totally abolishes promoter activity in J774 cells, with only partial reduction in MC3T3-E1 cells. Finally, we demonstrate that PU.1 acts as a β₅ silencer in J774 cells but plays no role in MC3T3-E1 cells. Thus, three Sp1/Sp3 sites regulate β₅ gene expression in macrophages and osteoblast-like cells, with each element exhibiting cell-type and/or activation-suppression specificity.