Schematic model of VWF promoter activation. The schematic representation of the endothelial cell-specific VWF promoter sequences -487 to +247 and transacting factors that interact with these sequences are shown. The line represents the 5′-flanking region, and the open box represents the first exon, with transcription start site shown by the arrow. The T and C represent TATA and CCAAT sequences, respectively. Factors NF1, Oct1, and NFY, which function as repressors, are shown as shaded symbols. Factors Ets, NFY, and GATA, which function as activators, are shown as open symbols. The region conferring endothelial-specific activity to the promoter (EC-specific region) is shown by the bracket.