FIG. 3.

Activation of the hBD-2 promoter in HT-29 and Caco-2 cells after stimulation with BFT. (A) The hBD-2 promoter constructs. Nucleotide positions are marked relative to the hBD-2 transcription start. Three NF-κB sites and one AP-1 site in the hBD-2 promoter (bp −2338 to −1) linked to the luciferase gene were mutated in different combinations. (Adapted from reference 44.) (B) HT-29 or Caco-2 cells were transfected with the wild-type (−2338-luc) or several mutated hBD-2-promoter-luciferase plasmids for 24 h. After transfection, cells were stimulated with BFT (300 ng/ml) for another 6 h. Data are expressed as mean fold induction ± SEM of luciferase activity relative to unstimulated controls (n = 5). The mean fold induction of β-actin reporter gene activity relative to that of unstimulated controls remained relatively constant throughout each experiment.