Identification of TTP mRNA targets in human dendritic cells reveals TTP as a critical regulator of dendritic cell maturation

Systematic analysis of posttranscriptional gene expression

Recent systems studies of gene expression have begun to dissect the layers of regulation that underlie the eukaryotic transcriptome, the combined consequence of transcriptional and posttranscriptional events. Among the regulatory layers of the transcriptome are those of the ribonome, a highly dynamic environment of ribonucleoproteins in which RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), noncoding regulatory RNAs (ncRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs) interact. While multiple mRNAs are coordinated together in groups within the ribonome of a eukaryotic cell, each individual type of mRNA consists of multiple copies, each of which has an opportunity to be a member of more than one modular group termed a posttranscriptional RNA operon or regulon (PTRO). The mRNAs associated with each PTRO encode functionally related proteins and are coordinated at the levels of RNA stability and translation by the actions of the specific RBPs and noncoding regulatory RNAs. This article examines the methods that led to the elucidation of PTROs and the coordinating mechanisms that appear to regulate the RNA components of PTROs. Moreover, the article considers the characteristics of the dynamic systems that drive PTROs and how mRNA components are bound collectively in physical 'states' to respond to cellular perturbations and diseases. In conclusion, these studies have challenged the extent to which cellular mRNA abundance can inform investigators of the functional status of a biological system. We argue that understanding the ribonome has greater potential for illuminating the underlying coordination principles of growth, differentiation, and disease.

Evidence for OTUD-6B participation in B lymphocytes cell cycle after cytokine stimulation

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are important regulators of cell proliferation. Here we identified a functional deubiquitinating enzyme, ovarian tumor domain-containing 6B (OTUD-6B). Mutation of the conserved Cys residue abolished its deubiquitinating activity in vitro. Otud-6b expression was induced with cytokine stimulation in both mouse Ba/F3 cells and primary B lymphocytes followed a rapid decrease. This rapid decrease was partially facilitated by tristetraprolin (TTP) destabilization of Otud-6b mRNA through AU-rich motifs. Enforced expression of OTUD-6B in Ba/F3 cells could block cell proliferation by arresting cells in G1 phase. In addition, cyclin D2 level was down-regulated when OTUD-6B WT was overexpressed. Therefore, down-regulation of Otud-6b expression after prolonged cytokine stimulation may be required for cell proliferation in B lymphocytes.

Is transcription the dominant force during dynamic changes in gene expression?

Dynamic changes in gene expression punctuate lymphocyte development and are a characteristic of lymphocyte activation. A prevailing view has been that these changes are driven by DNA transcription factors, which are the dominant force in gene expression. Accumulating evidence is challenging this DNA centric view and has highlighted the prevalence and dynamic nature of RNA handling mechanisms. Alternative splicing and differential polyadenylation appear to be more widespread than first thought. Changes in mRNA decay rates also affect the abundance of transcripts and this mechanism may contribute significantly to gene expression. Additional RNA handling mechanisms that control the intracellular localization of mRNA and association with translating ribosomes are also important. Thus, gene expression is regulated through the coordination of transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Developing a more "RNA centric" view of gene expression will allow a more systematic understanding of how gene expression and cell function are integrated.

Post-transcriptional regulation of the DUSP6/MKP-3 phosphatase by MEK/ERK signaling and hypoxia

DUSP6/MKP-3 is a cytoplasmic dual-specificity phosphatase specific for the MAP kinases ERK1/2. Previous data have shown that the MEK/ERK axis exerts a retro-control on its own signaling through transcriptional and post-translational regulation of DUSP6. We first confirm the key role of MEK/ERK in maintaining the levels of dusp6 mRNA, while PI3K/mTOR, p38 MAPK, and JNK signaling pathways had no significant effects. We further show that regulation of dusp6 mRNA stability plays a critical role in ERK-dependent regulation of dusp6 expression. Luciferase reporter constructs indicated that MEK/ERK signaling increased the half-life of dusp6 mRNA in a 3'untranslated region (3'UTR)-dependent manner. In addition, hypoxia, a hallmark of tumor growth, was found to increase both endogenous levels of dusp6 mRNA and the stability of the luciferase reporter constructs containing its 3'UTR, in a HIF-1-dependent manner. Nevertheless, a basal ERK activity was required for the response to hypoxia. Finally, Tristetraprolin (TTP), a member of the TIS11 CCCH zinc finger protein family, and PUM2, an homolog of drosophila pumilio, two proteins regulating mRNA stability reduced the levels of endogenous dusp6 mRNA and the activity of the dusp6/3'UTR luciferase reporter constructs. This study shows that post-transcriptional regulation is a key process in the control of DUSP6 expression.

Phosphorylation of tristetraprolin by MK2 impairs AU-rich element mRNA decay by preventing deadenylase recruitment

mRNA turnover is a critical step in the control of gene expression. In mammalian cells, a subset of mRNAs regulated at the level of mRNA turnover contain destabilizing AU-rich elements (AREs) in their 3' untranslated regions. These transcripts are bound by a suite of ARE-binding proteins (AUBPs) that receive information from cell signaling events to modulate rates of ARE mRNA decay. Here we show that a key destabilizing AUBP, tristetraprolin (TTP), is repressed by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-activated kinase MK2 due to the inability of phospho-TTP to recruit deadenylases to target mRNAs. TTP is tightly associated with cytoplasmic deadenylases and promotes rapid deadenylation of target mRNAs both in vitro and in cells. TTP can direct the deadenylation of substrate mRNAs when tethered to a heterologous mRNA, yet its ability to do so is inhibited upon phosphorylation by MK2. Phospho-TTP is not impaired in mRNA binding but does fail to recruit the major cytoplasmic deadenylases. These observations suggest that phosphorylation of TTP by MK2 primarily affects mRNA decay downstream of RNA binding by preventing recruitment of the deadenylation machinery. Thus, TTP may remain poised to rapidly reactivate deadenylation of bound transcripts to downregulate gene expression once the p38 MAPK pathway is deactivated.

ZFP36L1 negatively regulates erythroid differentiation of CD34+ hematopoietic stem cells by interfering with the Stat5b pathway

ZFP36L1 is a member of a family of CCCH tandem zinc finger proteins (TTP family) able to bind to AU-rich elements in the 3'-untranslated region of mRNAs, thereby triggering their degradation. The present study suggests that such mechanism is used during hematopoiesis to regulate differentiation by posttranscriptionally modulating the expression of specific target genes. In particular, it demonstrates that ZFP36L1 negatively regulates erythroid differentiation by directly binding the 3' untranslated region of Stat5b encoding mRNA. Stat5b down-regulation obtained by ZFP36L1 overexpression results, in human hematopoietic progenitors, in a drastic decrease of erythroid colonies formation. These observations have been confirmed by silencing experiments targeting Stat5b and by treating hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells with drugs able to induce ZFP36L1 expression. Moreover, this study shows that different members of ZFP36L1 family act redundantly, because cooverexpression of ZFP36L1 and family member ZFP36 determines a cumulative effect on Stat5b down-regulation. This work describes a mechanism underlying ZFP36L1 capability to regulate hematopoietic differentiation and suggests a new target for the therapy of hematopoietic diseases involving Stat5b/JAK2 pathway, such as chronic myeloproliferative disorders.

Tissue type-specific expression of the dsRNA-binding protein 76 and genome-wide elucidation of its target mRNAs

Background

RNA-binding proteins accompany all steps in the life of mRNAs and provide dynamic gene regulatory functions for rapid adjustment to changing extra- or intracellular conditions. The association of RNA-binding proteins with their targets is regulated through changing subcellular distribution, post-translational modification or association with other proteins.

Methodology

We demonstrate that the dsRNA binding protein 76 (DRBP76), synonymous with nuclear factor 90, displays inherently distinct tissue type-specific subcellular distribution in the normal human central nervous system and in malignant brain tumors of glial origin. Altered subcellular localization and isoform distribution in malignant glioma indicate that tumor-specific changes in DRBP76-related gene products and their regulatory functions may contribute to the formation and/or maintenance of these tumors. To identify endogenous mRNA targets of DRBP76, we performed RNA-immunoprecipitation and genome-wide microarray analyses in HEK293 cells, and identified specific classes of transcripts encoding critical functions in cellular metabolism.

Significance

Our data suggest that physiologic DRBP76 expression, isoform distribution and subcellular localization are profoundly altered upon malignant transformation. Thus, the functional role of DRBP76 in co- or post-transcriptional gene regulation may contribute to the neoplastic phenotype.

Deletion of the RNA-binding proteins ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 leads to perturbed thymic development and T lymphoblastic leukemia

ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 are RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) that interact with AU-rich elements in the 3' untranslated region of mRNA, which leads to mRNA degradation and translational repression. Here we show that mice that lacked ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 during thymopoiesis developed a T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) dependent on the oncogenic transcription factor Notch1. Before the onset of T-ALL, thymic development was perturbed, with accumulation of cells that had passed through the beta-selection checkpoint without first expressing the T cell antigen receptor beta-chain (TCRbeta). Notch1 expression was higher in untransformed thymocytes in the absence of ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2. Both RBPs interacted with evolutionarily conserved AU-rich elements in the 3' untranslated region of Notch1 and suppressed its expression. Our data establish a role for ZFP36L1 and ZFP36L2 during thymocyte development and in the prevention of malignant transformation.

Simian immunodeficiency virus-infected macaques treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy have reduced central nervous system viral replication and inflammation but persistence of viral DNA

BACKGROUND

During the era of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), the prevalence of HIV-associated central nervous system (CNS) disease has increased despite suppression of plasma viremia.

METHODS

In a simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) model system in which all animals develop AIDS and 90% develop CNS disease by 3 months after inoculation, pigtailed macaques were treated with a regimen of tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, saquinavir, atazanavir, and an integrase inhibitor starting at 12 days after inoculation and were euthanized at approximately 175 days after inoculation.

RESULTS

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) viral loads declined rapidly after the initiation of HAART. Brain viral RNA was undetectable at necropsy, but viral DNA levels were not different from those in untreated SIV-infected macaques. CNS inflammation was significantly reduced, with decreased brain expression of major histocompatibility complex class II and glial fibrillary acidic protein and reduced levels of CSF CCL2 and interleukin 6. Brain from treated macaques had significantly lower levels of interferon beta, type 1 interferon-inducible gene myxovirus (influenza) resistance A, and indolamine 2,3-dioxygenase messenger RNA, suggesting that immune hyperactivation was suppressed, and fewer CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells, suggesting that trafficking of T cells from peripheral blood was reduced. Brain levels of CD68 protein and tumor necrosis factor alpha and interferon gamma RNA were reduced but were not significantly lower, indicating continued CNS inflammation.

CONCLUSIONS

These data, generated in a rigorous, high-viral-load SIV-infected macaque model, showed that HAART provided benefits with respect to CNS viral replication and inflammation but that no change in the level of viral DNA and continued CNS inflammation occurred in some macaques.

ZFP36L1 is regulated by growth factors and cytokines in keratinocytes and influences their VEGF production

Keratinocyte-derived growth factors and cytokines play an important role in epidermal homeostasis and particularly in cutaneous wound repair. Thus, we analyzed a potential role of the ZFP36/tristetraprolin family of zinc finger proteins, which are targets of these factors, but also regulate their production, in keratinocytes. We show that expression of ZFP36, ZFP36L1, and ZFP36L2 is induced by a broad variety of growth factors and cytokines, and by scratch wounding. Since ZFP36L1 is a modulator of vascular endothelium growth factor (VEGF) mRNA stability, we subsequently used siRNA technology to inhibit ZFP36L1 gene expression. Notably, this treatment resulted in prolonged maintenance of elevated VEGF levels in HaCaT keratinocytes upon epidermal growth factor stimulation of these cells. Taken together, our results suggest an important role of ZFP36L1 in wound healing.

The dual-specificity MAP kinase phosphatases: critical roles in development and cancer

Intracellular signaling by mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases (MAPK) is involved in many cellular responses and in the regulation of various physiological and pathological conditions. Tight control of the localization and duration of extracellular-regulated kinase (ERK), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase (JNK), or p38 MAPK activity is thus a fundamental aspect of cell biology. Several members of the dual-specificity phosphatase (DUSPs) family are able to dephosphorylate MAPK isoforms with different specificity, cellular, and tissue localization. Understanding how these phosphatases are themselves regulated during development or in physiological and pathological conditions is therefore fundamental. Over the years, gene deletion and knockdown studies have completed initial in vitro studies and shed a new light on the global and specific roles of DUSPs in vivo. Whereas DUSP1, DUSP2, and DUSP10 appear as crucial players in the regulation of immune responses, other members of the family, like the ERK-specific DUSP6, were shown to play a major role in development. Recent findings on the involvement of DUSPs in cancer progression and resistance will also be discussed.

Inflammation: cytokines and RNA-based regulation

The outcome of an inflammatory response depends upon the coordinated regulation of a variety of both pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and other proteins. Regulation of these inflammation mediators can occur at multiple levels, including transcription, mRNA translation, post-translational modifications, and mRNA degradation. Post-transcriptional regulation has been shown to play an important role in controlling the expression of these mediators, allowing for normal initiation and resolution of the inflammatory response. Many inflammatory mediators have unstable mRNAs due, in part, to the presence of AU-rich elements in their 3'-untranslated regions. Increasing numbers of RNA-binding proteins have been identified that can bind to these AU-rich elements and then regulate the stability and/or translation of the mRNA. This review summarizes current knowledge about the role of several RNA-binding proteins that act through AU-rich elements to post-transcriptionally regulate the biosynthesis of proteins involved in inflammation.

Post-transcriptional regulons coordinate the initiation and resolution of inflammation

Transcriptional control mechanisms chart the course of the inflammatory response by synthesizing mRNAs encoding proteins that promote or inhibit inflammation. Because these mRNAs can be long-lived, turning off their synthesis does not rapidly stop or change the direction of inflammation. Post-transcriptional mechanisms that modify mRNA stability and/or translation provide more rapid and flexible control of this process and are particularly important in coordinating the initiation and resolution of inflammation. Here, I review the surprising variety of post-transcriptional control mechanisms that regulate the initiation and resolution of inflammation and discuss how these mechanisms are integrated to coordinate this essential process.

AUF1 is involved in splenic follicular B cell maintenance

BACKGROUND

The adenosine/uridine-rich element (ARE)-binding protein AUF1 functions to regulate the inflammatory response through the targeted degradation of cytokine and other mRNAs that contain specific AREs in their 3' noncoding region (3' NCR). To investigate the role of AUF1 in the immune system, we characterized the lymphoid compartments of AUF1-deficient mice.

RESULTS

Mice lacking AUF1 exhibit an altered proportion and size of splenic B cell subsets. We show prominent apoptosis in splenic B cell follicles and reduced expression of Bcl-2, A1, and Bcl-XL correlate with increased turnover and significant reduction in the number and proportion of splenic FO B cells in AUF1-deficient mice. In addition, AUF1-deficient mice exhibit a sharp decrease in splenic size and lymphocyte cellularity. Bone marrow transfer studies demonstrate that AUF1 deficiency induces cell-autonomous defects in mature B cell subsets but not in the overall number of splenocytes. Reconstitution of irradiated adult AUF1-deficient mice with wild-type bone marrow restores the proportion of FO and marginal zone (MZ) B cells, but does not rescue the decrease in the number of splenocytes. Functionally, AUF1-deficient mice mount an attenuated response to T cell-independent (TI) antigen, which correlates with impaired MZ B cell function.

CONCLUSION

These data indicate that AUF1 is important in the maintenance of splenic FO B cells and adequate humoral immune responses.

The RNA binding protein tristetraprolin influences the activation state of murine dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) serve to maintain peripheral tolerance under steady state conditions. Upon triggering by activation signals they initiate strong immune responses. The activation of DCs is accompanied by a rapid upregulation of proinflammatory cytokines, which were shown in other cell types to be regulated by mechanisms at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional level. Tristetraprolin (TTP), an important RNA binding protein, is involved in the regulation of mRNA stability of such cytokines. In this study we analyzed the significance of TTP for mouse DCs, which were derived from TTP(-/-) and WT bone marrow progenitor cells (BM-DCs). Unstimulated BM-DCs of TTP(-/-) mice expressed lower levels of mRNAs encoding the costimulatory molecules CD40 and CD86 and surprisingly also the canonical TTP targets TNF-alpha and IL-10 as compared with WT DCs. On the protein level, both DC populations expressed comparable amounts of CD80 and CD86 and of either cytokine, but TTP(-/-) DCs expressed less MHCII than WT DCs. On the other hand, TTP(-/-) DCs displayed elevated expression of other TTP target mRNAs like IL-1beta, c-fos and Mkp-1. Stimulation of BM-DCs of either genotype with lipopolysaccharide resulted in a rapid upregulation to a comparable extent of all molecules monitored so far, except for c-fos mRNA. Subsequent mRNA decay analysis revealed gene-specific differences in mRNA stability, which was influenced by the presence of TTP and the activation state of the DCs. Unstimulated TTP(-/-) DCs exerted a markedly lower allogeneic T cell stimulatory potential than WT DCs. Moreover, TTP(-/-) DCs induced an altered cytokine pattern in cocultures of DCs and T cells. However, allogeneic T cells primed by unstimulated DCs of either genotype were equally refractory to restimulation and suppressed the proliferation of naive T cells to the same extent. Thus, the findings of this study lend support to the interpretation that without external stimulation antigen presenting activity in DCs in the presence of TTP is more pronounced than in its absence and that posttranscriptional regulation contributes to the control of gene expression in DCs.

Tristetraprolin impairs NF-kappaB/p65 nuclear translocation

Tristetraprolin (TTP) is a prototypic family member of CCCH-type tandem zinc-finger domain proteins that regulate mRNA destabilization in eukaryotic cells. TTP binds to AU-rich elements (AREs) in the 3'-untranslated region of certain mRNAs, including tumor necrosis factor alpha, granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor, and immediate early response 3, thereby facilitating their ARE-mediated decay. Expression of TTP is up-regulated by a variety of agents, including inflammatory mediators such as tumor necrosis factor alpha, a prominent activator of the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) family of transcription factors. Accordingly, TTP is involved in the negative feedback regulation of NF-kappaB through promoting mRNA degradation. We describe here a novel, ARE-mediated decay-independent function of TTP on the termination of NF-kappaB response: TTP suppresses the transcriptional activity of NF-kappaB-dependent promoters independent of its mRNA-destabilizing property. In TTP knock-out mouse embryonic fibroblasts, lack of TTP leads to enhanced nuclear p65 levels, which is associated with the up-regulation of specific, ARE-less NF-kappaB target genes. We find that attenuation of NF-kappaB activity is at least in part due to an interference of TTP with the nuclear import of the p65 subunit of the transcription factor. This novel role of TTP may synergize with its mRNA-degrading function to contribute to the efficient regulation of proinflammatory gene expression.

Targeted disruption of Zfp36l2, encoding a CCCH tandem zinc finger RNA-binding protein, results in defective hematopoiesis

Members of the tristetraprolin family of tandem CCCH finger proteins can bind to AU-rich elements in the 3'-untranslated region of mRNAs, leading to their deadenylation and subsequent degradation. Partial deficiency of 1 of the 4 mouse tristetraprolin family members, Zfp36l2, resulted in complete female infertility because of early embryo death. We have now generated mice completely deficient in the ZFP36L2 protein. Homozygous Zfp36l2 knockout (KO) mice died within approximately 2 weeks of birth, apparently from intestinal or other hemorrhage. Analysis of peripheral blood from KO mice showed a decrease in red and white cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets. Yolk sacs from embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) Zfp36l2 KO mice and fetal livers from E14.5 KO mice gave rise to markedly reduced numbers of definitive multilineage and lineage-committed hematopoietic progenitors. Competitive reconstitution experiments demonstrated that Zfp36l2 KO fetal liver hematopoietic stem cells were unable to adequately reconstitute the hematopoietic system of lethally irradiated recipients. These data establish Zfp36l2 as a critical modulator of definitive hematopoiesis and suggest a novel regulatory pathway involving control of mRNA stability in the life cycle of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells.

Tristetraprolin is required for full anti-inflammatory response of murine macrophages to IL-10

IL-10 is essential for inhibiting chronic and acute inflammation by decreasing the amounts of proinflammatory cytokines made by activated macrophages. IL-10 controls proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production indirectly via the transcription factor Stat3. One of the most physiologically significant IL-10 targets is TNF-alpha, a potent proinflammatory mediator that is the target for multiple anti-TNF-alpha clinical strategies in Crohn's disease and rheumatoid arthritis. The anti-inflammatory effects of IL-10 seem to be mediated by several incompletely understood transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms. In this study, we show that in LPS-activated bone marrow-derived murine macrophages, IL-10 reduces the mRNA and protein levels of TNF-alpha and IL-1alpha in part through the RNA destabilizing factor tristetraprolin (TTP). TTP is known for its central role in destabilizing mRNA molecules containing class II AU-rich elements in 3' untranslated regions. We found that IL-10 initiates a Stat3-dependent increase of TTP expression accompanied by a delayed decrease of p38 MAPK activity. The reduction of p38 MAPK activity releases TTP from the p38 MAPK-mediated inhibition, thereby resulting in diminished mRNA and protein levels of proinflammatory cytokines. These findings establish that TTP is required for full responses of bone marrow-derived murine macrophages to IL-10.

Post-transcriptional Regulation of Genes Encoding Anti-microbial Peptides in Drosophila

Secretion of antimicrobial peptides (AMPep) is a central defense mechanism used by invertebrates to combat infections. In Drosophila the synthesis of these peptides is a highly regulated process allowing their rapid release in the hemolymph upon contact with pathogens and the arrest of their production after pathogen clearance. We observed that AMPep genes have either a transient or sustained expression profile in S2 Drosophila cells treated with peptidoglycan. Moreover, AMPep genes containing AU-rich elements (ARE) in their 3'-untranslated region (UTR) are subject to a post-transcriptional control affecting mRNA stability, thereby contributing to their transient expression profile. Cecropin A1 (CecA1) constitutes the prototype of this latter class of AMPeps. CecA1 mRNA bears in its 3'-UTR an ARE similar to class II AREs found in several short-lived mammalian mRNAs. In response to immune deficiency cascade signaling activated by Gram-negative peptidoglycans, CecA1 mRNA is transiently stabilized and subsequently submitted to deadenylation and decay mediated by the ARE present in its 3'-UTR. The functionality of CecA1 ARE relies on its ability to recruit TIS11 protein, which accelerates CecA1 mRNA deadenylation and decay. Moreover, we observed that CecA1 mRNA deadenylation is a biphasic process. Whereas early deadenylation is independent of TIS11, the later deadenylation phase depends on TIS11 and is mediated by CAF1 deadenylase. We also report that in contrast to tristetraprolin, its mammalian homolog, TIS11, is constitutively expressed in S2 cells and accumulates in cytoplasmic foci distinct from processing bodies, suggesting that the Drosophila ARE-mediated mRNA deadenylation and decay mechanism is markedly different in invertebrates and mammals.

Access to immunology through the Gene Ontology

The Gene Ontology (GO) is widely recognized as the premier tool for the organization and functional annotation of molecular aspects of cellular systems. However, for many immunologists the use of GO is a very foreign concept. Indeed, as a controlled vocabulary, GO can almost be considered a new language, and it can be difficult to appreciate the use and value of this approach for understanding the immune system. This review reflects on the application of GO to the field of immunology and explains the process of GO annotation. Finally, this review hopes to inspire immunologists to invest time and energy in improving both the content of the GO and the quality of GO annotations associated with genes of immunological interest.

Mechanism of upregulation of the inhibitory regulator, src-like adaptor protein (SLAP), by glucocorticoids in mast cells

Glucocorticoids suppress mast cell activation by inhibiting signaling events as well as transcription of cytokine genes. The inhibition of signaling events has been attributed to upregulation of inhibitory regulators such as Src-like adaptor protein1 (SLAP), downstream of tyrosine kinase1 (Dok1), and dual specificity protein phospahatase1 (DUSP1). As reported here, the upregulation of SLAP and Dok1, but not DUSP1, in the RBL-2H3 mast cell line was inhibited by actinomycin D and was thus dependent on gene transcription. Examination of the gene sequences revealed a glucocorticoid response element (GRE) and a half GRE as potential regulators of the SLAP and Dok1, respectively. As indicated by luciferase reporter assays, SLAP GRE, but not the Dok1 half GRE, robustly activated gene transcription after treatment of cells with glucocorticoids. Binding of the glucocorticoid receptor to the SLAP GRE was verified by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay. These findings further support the notion that the immunosuppressive actions of glucocorticoids are exerted in part through upregulation of inhibitory regulators by various mechanisms. In the case of SLAP specifically, this requires activation of gene transcription through the interaction of the glucocorticoid receptor with GRE.