Transcriptional regulation in airway epithelial cell gene expression

Analysis of molecular mechanisms that regulate transcription in airway epithelial cells is important not only in understanding the principles of development and differentiation of the airway but also in unravelling the function of proteins encoded in the genes analysed. In addition, a well-characterized promoter of a gene can be used as to regulate the expression of a gene or genes introduced into the airway for gene therapy. For these reasons, we studied the cell-specific transcription of the secretory leukoprotease inhibitor gene and found a cis-element specific to airway epithelial cells in the promoter of this gene.