Prolactin regulatory element-binding (PREB) protein is a transcription factor not only in pituitary but also adrenal gland. Steroid 11 beta-hydroxylase (CYP11B1), a member of the cytochrome p-450 superfamily, is responsible for the last step of glucocorticoid biosynthesis in the adrenal cortices of many kinds of animals. In the present study, we have examined the role of PREB in regulating CYP11B1. CYP11B1 expression was found to be regulated by cAMP, which stimulated the expression of PREB. In addition, PREB induced the expression of the luciferase reporter protein that was under the control of the CYP11B1 promoter. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA) showed that PREB mediates its transcriptional effect by binding to the PREB-responsive cis-element (PRCE) of the CYP11B1 promoter. The knockdown of PREB expression attenuated the effects of cAMP oil CYP11B1 expression. In summary, our data showed that in the adrenal gland, PREB regulates the transcription of the CYP11B1 gene via cAMP. (c) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.