We report for the first time that IFNG gene expression requires high mobility group (HMG)A1, the architectural transcription factor mediating enhanceosome formation. This finding is supported by our direct studies of T cells isolated from the HMGA1-transgenic mice displaying an up-regulation of IFN-gamma production and of HMGA1-deficient mice exhibited a decreased IFN-gamma induction. In parallel transfection studies in EL4 cells, we observed elevated IFNG gene promoter activity in cells stably over-expressing HMGA1 and a reduction of such activity in cells expressing dominant-negative HMGA1. In vitro binding assays further demonstrated a specific interaction of HMGA1 to defined regions of the IFNG gene proximal promoter.