In order to identify possible mechanisms regulating the expression of Fc gamma RII, we have examined the methylation status of the beta Fc gamma R gene in a panel of Fc gamma RII (+) and (-) cells belonging to several different lineages. We used beta 1 cDNA probes, derived from beta Fc gamma R gene transcripts which encode murine Fc gamma RII molecules. We found that all CCGG sequences detected with these probes were methylated in the genomic DNA of the Fc gamma RII-(-) cells. By contrast, two CCGG sites were found to be selectively unmethylated in the DNA of all Fc gamma RII(+) cells tested. These sites could be assigned to the region of the 5' end of the beta Fc gamma R gene. Besides, the treatment of Fc gamma RII(-) thymoma cells BW5147 with 5-azacytidine induced a hypomethylation of the beta Fc gamma R gene concomitantly with the transcription of that gene as seen by Northern blotting and the expression of functional Fc gamma RII. Conversely, the DNA-methylating agent ethyl methanesulfonate completely reversed the phenotype of the 5-azacytidine-treated cells to that of the Fc gamma RII(-) BW5147 parent cells. In ethyl methanesulfonate-treated cells, the beta Fc gamma R gene was remethylated and the corresponding transcript was no more detectable. We conclude that the methylation of a specific 5' segment of the beta Fc gamma R gene regulates the expression of Fc gamma RII in murine T cells, B cells, mast cells, and macrophages, possibly by controlling the gene transcription.