Human CD83 (hCD83) is a glycoprotein expressed predominantly on the surface of dendritic cells (DC). To get insight into the regulation of hCD83 expression, we cloned a 3037 bp fragment up-stream of the translation initiation codon. Deletion mutants were constructed revealing highest promoter activity in the -261 fragment containing four SP1 binding sites and one NF-kappaB element. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated the specific interaction of NF-kappaB factors with the NF-kappaB element as well as specific binding of SP1 and SP3 to the SP1 binding site. The hCD83 promoter was inducible by TNF-alpha. This inducibility was strictly dependent on the intact NF-kappaB element.