<p>(A) CIITA pIV nucleotide sequence from −346 to +50 with the GAS and IRF1 binding sites (shaded hexagon) and the predicted ERE (clear rectangles) were identified using online transcription factor prediction software, (<a href="http://tfbind.hgc.jp/" target="_blank">http://tfbind.hgc.jp/</a>, <a href="http://alggen.lsi.upc.es/" target="_blank">http://alggen.lsi.upc.es/</a> and <a href="http://www.cbrc.jp/index.eng.html" target="_blank">http://www.cbrc.jp/index.eng.html</a>). Site directed mutagenesis was used to perform deletion of the predicted ERE. (B) VC5 and MC2 were transfected with CIITA pIV constructs, then treated with vehicle (ethanol) or E<sub>2</sub> (10<sup>−9</sup> M) and stimulated with IFN-γ (100 U/ml) for 12 hours, followed by determination of luciferase activity. Bar graphs represent the mean ± SEM of three independent experiments (**p<0.01, ***p<0.001).</p