Expression of mouse mast cell protease (mMCP) genes was examined with particular attention to the transactivation effect of mi transcription factor (MITF) and the expression differences between C57BL/6 (B6) and WB strains. We had reported the enhancing effect of MITF on the expression of mMCP-4, -5, and -6 genes in cultured mast cells (CMCs) of B6 strain, and in the present study we demonstrated the enhancing effect on the expression of mMCP-2 and -9 genes as well. The enhancing effect of MITF on the expression of mMCP-2, -4, -5, -6, and -9 genes was also detected in CMCs of the WB strain. The regulation of mMCP-2, -4, and -9 genes was localized to a specific promoter element (CANNTG) which was recognized and bound by MITF and which was conserved between the B6 and WB strains. On the other hand, the expression of mMCP-2, -4, and -9 genes was smaller in CMCs of the B6 strain when compared to their expression in CMCs of the WB strain. Although mMCP-5 is a chymase as mMCP-2, -4, and -9, and genes encoding all of the chymases are located on chromosome 14, the mMCP-5 gene was regulated in a manner distinct from mMCP-2, -4, and -9 genes. Mast cells of mice contain various proteases. The complementary (c)DNAs and genes that encode mast cell carboxypeptidase A and nine of the 10 mouse mast cell-specific serine proteases have been cloned and sequenced. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11] The mast cell carboxypeptidase A is an exopeptidase that prefers C-terminal aliphatic amino acids. The mouse mast cell proteases (mMCPs) -1, -2, -4, -5, and -9 are predicted to be chymases from the deduced amino acid sequences, whereas mMCP-6, -7, and transmembrane tryptase to be tryptases. The mMCP-1, -2, -4, -5, and -9 genes reside on chromosome 14 and link with a gene complex encoding blood cell proteases, such as the cathepsin G and multiple granzymes. [11][12][13][14][15] On the other hand, the mast cell carboxypeptidase A gene resides on the chromosome 3, and the mMCP-6, -7, and transmembrane tryptase genes reside on the chromosome 17. 12 Chromosomal localization of mMCP-8 has not been reported. From the viewpoint of structure, mMCP-8 is more closely related to cathepsin G and granzymes than to mast cell chymases. 10 The protease expression phenotype is influenced not only by extracellular environmental factors 16 -19 but also by intracellular factors. 20 -22 As extracellular factors, effects of tissue environments and cytokines have been studied. Messenger RNA (mRNA) of mMCP-2 is expressed by mast cells in the mucosal layer of the stomach of (WB ϫ C57BL6) F 1 (hereafter called WBB6F 1 )-ϩ/ϩ mice but not by mast cells in the muscle layer of the stomach. 16 Addition of interleukin 9, interleukin 10, or transforming growth factor- 1 significantly increased the mRNA expression of both mMCP-1 and -2 in cultured mast cells (CMCs). 9,17,18 On the other hand, addition of stem cell factor increased the expression of mMCP-4 and -6 in CMCs. 19 Transcription factors that are involved in the transactivation of mMCP genes are intracellular f...