Temporal and spatial control of murine GATA-3 transcription by promoter-proximal regulatory elements

A Model of Waardenburg Syndrome Using Patient-Derived iPSCs With a SOX10 Mutation Displays Compromised Maturation and Function of the Neural Crest That Involves Inner Ear Development

Waardenburg syndrome (WS) is an autosomal dominant inherited disorder that is characterized by sensorineural hearing loss and abnormal pigmentation. SOX10 is one of its main pathogenicity genes. The generation of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is an efficient means to investigate the mechanisms of inherited human disease. In our work, we set up an iPSC line derived from a WS patient with SOX10 mutation and differentiated into neural crest cells (NCCs), a key cell type involved in inner ear development. Compared with control-derived iPSCs, the SOX10 mutant iPSCs showed significantly decreased efficiency of development and differentiation potential at the stage of NCCs. After that, we carried out high-throughput RNA-seq and evaluated the transcriptional misregulation at every stage. Transcriptome analysis of differentiated NCCs showed widespread gene expression alterations, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were enriched in gene ontology terms of neuron migration, skeletal system development, and multicellular organism development, indicating that SOX10 has a pivotal part in the differentiation of NCCs. It's worth noting that, a significant enrichment among the nominal DEGs for genes implicated in inner ear development was found, as well as several genes connected to the inner ear morphogenesis. Based on the protein-protein interaction network, we chose four candidate genes that could be regulated by SOX10 in inner ear development, namely, BMP2, LGR5, GBX2, and GATA3. In conclusion, SOX10 deficiency in this WS subject had a significant impact on the gene expression patterns throughout NCC development in the iPSC model. The DEGs most significantly enriched in inner ear development and morphogenesis may assist in identifying the underlying basis for the inner ear malformation in subjects with WS.

A Gata3 enhancer necessary for ILC2 development and function

The type 2 helper effector program is driven by the master transcription factor GATA3 and can be expressed by subsets of both innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) and adaptive CD4+ T helper (Th) cells. While ILC2s and Th2 cells acquire their type 2 differentiation program under very different contexts, the distinct regulatory mechanisms governing this common program are only partially understood. Here we show that the differentiation of ILC2s, and their concomitant high level of GATA3 expression, are controlled by a Gata3 enhancer, Gata3 +674/762, that plays only a minimal role in Th2 cell differentiation. Mice lacking this enhancer exhibited defects in several but not all type 2 inflammatory responses, depending on the respective degree of ILC2 and Th2 cell involvement. Our study provides molecular insights into the different gene regulatory pathways leading to the acquisition of the GATA3-driven type 2 helper effector program in innate and adaptive lymphocytes.

Spiral ganglion cell degeneration-induced deafness as a consequence of reduced GATA factor activity

Zinc-finger transcription factors GATA2 and GATA3 are both expressed in the developing inner ear, although their overlapping versus distinct activities in adult definitive inner ear are not well understood. We show here that GATA2 and GATA3 are co-expressed in cochlear spiral ganglion cells and redundantly function in the maintenance of spiral ganglion cells and auditory neural circuitry. Notably, Gata2 and Gata3 compound heterozygous mutant mice had a diminished number of spiral ganglion cells due to enhanced apoptosis, which resulted in progressive hearing loss. The decrease in spiral ganglion cellularity was associated with lowered expression of neurotrophin receptor TrkC that is an essential factor for spiral ganglion cell survival. We further show that Gata2 null mutants that additionally bear a Gata2 YAC (yeast artificial chromosome) that counteracts the lethal hematopoietic deficiency due to complete Gata2 loss nonetheless failed to complement the deficiency in neonatal spiral ganglion neurons. Furthermore, cochlea-specific Gata2 deletion mice also had fewer spiral ganglion cells and resultant hearing impairment. These results show that GATA2 and GATA3 redundantly function to maintain spiral ganglion cells and hearing. We propose possible mechanisms underlying hearing loss in human GATA2- or GATA3-related genetic disorders.

Neural crest contributions to the ear: Implications for congenital hearing disorders

Congenital hearing disorders affect millions of children worldwide and can significantly impact acquisition of speech and language. Efforts to identify the developmental genetic etiologies of conductive and sensorineural hearing losses have revealed critical roles for cranial neural crest cells (NCCs) in ear development. Cranial NCCs contribute to all portions of the ear, and defects in neural crest development can lead to neurocristopathies associated with profound hearing loss. The molecular mechanisms governing the development of neural crest derivatives within the ear are partially understood, but many questions remain. In this review, we describe recent advancements in determining neural crest contributions to the ear, how they inform our understanding of neurocristopathies, and highlight new avenues for further research using bioinformatic approaches.

Identification of Novel Gata3 Distal Enhancers Active in Mouse Embryonic Lens

BACKGROUND

The tissue-specific transcriptional programs during normal development require tight control by distal cis-regulatory elements, such as enhancers, with specific DNA sequences recognized by transcription factors, coactivators, and chromatin remodeling enzymes. Gata3 is a sequence-specific DNA-binding transcription factor that regulates formation of multiple tissues and organs, including inner ear, lens, mammary gland, T-cells, urogenital system, and thyroid gland. In the eye, Gata3 has a highly restricted expression domain in the posterior part of the lens vesicle; however, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are unknown.

RESULTS

Here we describe the identification of a novel bipartite Gata3 lens-specific enhancer located ∼18 kb upstream from its transcriptional start site. We also found that a 5-kb Gata3 promoter possesses low activity in the lens. The bipartite enhancer contains arrays of AP-1, Ets-, and Smad1/5-binding sites as well as binding sites for lens-associated DNA-binding factors. Transient transfection studies of the promoter with the bipartite enhancer showed enhanced activation by BMP4 and FGF2.

CONCLUSIONS

These studies identify a novel distal enhancer of Gata3 with high activity in lens and indicate that BMP and FGF signaling can up-regulate expression of Gata3 in differentiating lens fiber cells through the identified Gata3 enhancer and promoter elements. Developmental Dynamics 247:1186-1198, 2018. © 2018 The Authors. Developmental Dynamics published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Association of Anatomists.

A Gata3 3' Distal Otic Vesicle Enhancer Directs Inner Ear-Specific Gata3 Expression

Transcription factor GATA3 plays vital roles in inner ear development, while regulatory mechanisms controlling its inner ear-specific expression are undefined. We demonstrate that a cis-regulatory element lying 571 kb 3' to the Gata3 gene directs inner ear-specific Gata3 expression, which we refer to as the Gata3 otic vesicle enhancer (OVE). In transgenic murine embryos, a 1.5-kb OVE-directed lacZ reporter (Tg^OVE-LacZ) exhibited robust lacZ expression specifically in the otic vesicle (OV), an inner ear primordial tissue, and its derivative semicircular canal. To further define the regulatory activity of this OVE, we generated Cre transgenic mice in which Cre expression was directed by a 246-bp core sequence within the OVE element (Tg^coreOVE-Cre). Tg^coreOVE-Cre successfully marked the OV-derived inner ear tissues, including cochlea, semicircular canal and spiral ganglion, when crossed with ROSA26 lacZ reporter mice. Furthermore, Gata3 conditionally mutant mice, when crossed with the Tg^coreOVE-Cre, showed hypoplasia throughout the inner ear tissues. These results demonstrate that OVE has a sufficient regulatory activity to direct Gata3 expression specifically in the otic vesicle and semicircular canal and that Gata3 expression driven by the OVE is crucial for normal inner ear development.

GATA3 and MYB Expression in Cutaneous Adnexal Neoplasms

Knowledge of staining pattern of certain immunostains might be useful in the classification of cutaneous adnexal tumors that can have clinical importance. We studied GATA3 and MYB expression in archival materials of 220 adnexal tumors comprised of sebaceous carcinomas, follicular tumors, apocrine carcinoma, predominantly apocrine tumors, predominantly eccrine tumors, and others including adenoid cystic carcinomas. Nuclear GATA3 expression was seen in 70% (153/220) of cases, including sebaceous carcinoma (93%), apocrine carcinoma (93%), follicular neoplasms (100%), and predominantly apocrine neoplasms (69%), yet only 38% of predominantly eccrine neoplasms. Nuclear MYB expression was seen in 43% (81/188) of cases, including adenoid cystic carcinoma (90%), predominantly apocrine tumors (66%), follicular neoplasms (49%), apocrine carcinomas (14%), predominantly eccrine tumors (11%), and sebaceous carcinomas (4%). GATA3 and MYB expression were noted in 43% (9/21) and 24% (5/21) of cutaneous metastases, respectively. Expression of both GATA3 and MYB was noted in 33% (60/184) of primary adnexal tumors versus 19% (4/21) of cutaneous metastases. GATA3 preferentially labels tumors with follicular, sebaceous, and apocrine differentiation. MYB is potentially a helpful stain in the distinction of desmoplastic trichoepithelioma versus basal cell carcinoma. The coexpression of GATA3 and MYB might be helpful in the distinction of primary cutaneous adnexal carcinoma versus metastatic breast, salivary gland, or urothelial carcinoma.

Gata3 Hypomorphic Mutant Mice Rescued with a Yeast Artificial Chromosome Transgene Suffer a Glomerular Mesangial Cell Defect

GATA3 is a zinc finger transcription factor that plays a crucial role in embryonic kidney development, while its precise functions in the adult kidney remain largely unexplored. Here, we demonstrate that GATA3 is specifically expressed in glomerular mesangial cells and plays a critical role in the maintenance of renal glomerular function. Newly generated Gata3 hypomorphic mutant mice exhibited neonatal lethality associated with severe renal hypoplasia. Normal kidney size was restored by breeding the hypomorphic mutant with a rescuing transgenic mouse line bearing a 662-kb Gata3 yeast artificial chromosome (YAC), and these animals (termed G3YR mice) survived to adulthood. However, most of the G3YR mice showed degenerative changes in glomerular mesangial cells, which deteriorated progressively during postnatal development. Consequently, the G3YR adult mice suffered severe renal failure. We found that the 662-kb Gata3 YAC transgene recapitulated Gata3 expression in the renal tubules but failed to direct sufficient GATA3 activity to mesangial cells. Renal glomeruli of the G3YR mice had significantly reduced amounts of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR), which is known to participate in the development and maintenance of glomerular mesangial cells. These results demonstrate a critical role for GATA3 in the maintenance of mesangial cells and its absolute requirement for prevention of glomerular disease.

Exclusion of Dlx5/6 expression from the distal-most mandibular arches enables BMP-mediated specification of the distal cap

Cranial neural crest cells (crNCCs) migrate from the neural tube to the pharyngeal arches (PAs) of the developing embryo and, subsequently, differentiate into bone and connective tissue to form the mandible. Within the PAs, crNCCs respond to local signaling cues to partition into the proximo-distally oriented subdomains that convey positional information to these developing tissues. Here, we show that the distal-most of these subdomains, the distal cap, is marked by expression of the transcription factor Hand1 (H1) and gives rise to the ectomesenchymal derivatives of the lower incisors. We uncover a H1 enhancer sufficient to drive reporter gene expression within the crNCCs of the distal cap. We show that bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling and the transcription factor HAND2 (H2) synergistically regulate H1 distal cap expression. Furthermore, the homeodomain proteins distal-less homeobox 5 (DLX5) and DLX6 reciprocally inhibit BMP/H2-mediated H1 enhancer regulation. These findings provide insights into how multiple signaling pathways direct transcriptional outcomes that pattern the developing jaw.

Lineage-affiliated transcription factors bind the Gata3 Tce1 enhancer to mediate lineage-specific programs

The transcription factor GATA3 is essential for the genesis and maturation of the T cell lineage, and GATA3 dysregulation has pathological consequences. Previous studies have shown that GATA3 function in T cell development is regulated by multiple signaling pathways and that the Notch nuclear effector, RBP-J, binds specifically to the Gata3 promoter. We previously identified a T cell-specific Gata3 enhancer (Tce1) lying 280 kb downstream from the structural gene and demonstrated in transgenic mice that Tce1 promoted T lymphocyte-specific transcription of reporter genes throughout T cell development; however, it was not clear if Tce1 is required for Gata3 transcription in vivo. Here, we determined that the canonical Gata3 promoter is insufficient for Gata3 transcriptional activation in T cells in vivo, precluding the possibility that promoter binding by a host of previously implicated transcription factors alone is responsible for Gata3 expression in T cells. Instead, we demonstrated that multiple lineage-affiliated transcription factors bind to Tce1 and that this enhancer confers T lymphocyte-specific Gata3 activation in vivo, as targeted deletion of Tce1 in a mouse model abrogated critical functions of this T cell-regulatory element. Together, our data show that Tce1 is both necessary and sufficient for critical aspects of Gata3 T cell-specific transcriptional activity.

Hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness, and renal dysgenesis syndrome with a GATA3 mutation

Hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness, and renal dysgenesis syndrome is an autosomal dominant disease caused by mutations in the GATA3 gene on chromosome 10p15. We identified a patient diagnosed with hypoparathyroidism who also had a family history of hypoparathyroidism and sensorineural deafness, present in the father. The patient was subsequently diagnosed and found to be a heterozygote for an insertion mutation c.255_256ins4 (GTGC) in exon 2 of GATA3. His father was also confirmed to have the same mutation in GATA3.

LIM homeodomain transcription factor Isl1 directs normal pyloric development by targeting Gata3

Background

Abnormalities in pyloric development or in contractile function of the pylorus cause reflux of duodenal contents into the stomach and increase the risk of gastric metaplasia and cancer. Abnormalities of the pyloric region are also linked to congenital defects such as the relatively common neonatal hypertrophic pyloric stenosis, and primary duodenogastric reflux. Therefore, understanding pyloric development is of great clinical relevance. Here, we investigated the role of the LIM homeodomain transcription factor Isl1 in pyloric development.

Results

Examination of Isl1 expression in developing mouse stomach by immunohistochemistry, whole mount in situ hybridization and real-time quantitative PCR demonstrated that Isl1 is highly expressed in developing mouse stomach, principally in the smooth muscle layer of the pylorus. Isl1 expression was also examined by immunofluorescence in human hypertrophic pyloric stenosis where the majority of smooth muscle cells were found to express Isl1. Isl1 function in embryonic stomach development was investigated utilizing a tamoxifen-inducible Isl1 knockout mouse model. Isl1 deficiency led to nearly complete absence of the pyloric outer longitudinal muscle layer at embryonic day 18.5, which is consistent with Gata3 null mouse phenotype. Chromatin immunoprecipitation, luciferase assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed that Isl1 ensures normal pyloric development by directly targeting Gata3.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the Isl1-Gata3 transcription regulatory axis is essential for normal pyloric development. These findings are highly clinically relevant and may help to better understand pathways leading to pyloric disease.

From the cradle to the grave: activities of GATA-3 throughout T-cell development and differentiation

GATA family transcription factors play multiple vital roles in hematopoiesis in many cell lineages, and in particular, T cells require GATA-3 for execution of several developmental steps. Transcriptional activation of the Gata3 gene is observed throughout T-cell development and differentiation in a stage-specific fashion. GATA-3 has been described as a master regulator of T-helper 2 (Th2) cell differentiation in mature CD4(+) T cells. During T-cell development in the thymus, its roles in the CD4 versus CD8 lineage choice and at the β-selection checkpoint are the best characterized. In contrast, its importance prior to β-selection has been obscured both by the developmental heterogeneity of double negative (DN) 1 thymocytes and the paucity of early T-lineage progenitors (ETPs), a subpopulation of DN1 cells that contains the most immature thymic progenitors that retain potent T-lineage developmental potential. By examining multiple lines of in vivo evidence procured through the analysis of Gata3 mutant mice, we have recently demonstrated that GATA-3 is additionally required at the earliest stage of thymopoiesis for the development of the ETP population. Here, we review the characterized functions of GATA-3 at each stage of T-cell development and discuss hypothetical molecular pathways that mediate these functions.

An NK and T cell enhancer lies 280 kilobase pairs 3' to the gata3 structural gene

Transcription factor GATA-3 is vital for multiple stages of T cell and natural killer (NK) cell development, and yet the factors that directly regulate Gata3 transcription during hematopoiesis are only marginally defined. Here, we show that neither of the Gata3 promoters, previously implicated in its tissue-specific regulation, is alone capable of directing Gata3 transcription in T lymphocytes. In contrast, by surveying large swaths of DNA surrounding the Gata3 locus, we located a cis element that can recapitulate aspects of the Gata3-dependent T cell regulatory program in vivo. This element, located 280 kbp 3' to the structural gene, directs both T cell- and NK cell-specific transcription in vivo but harbors no other tissue activity. This novel, distant element regulates multiple major developmental stages that require GATA-3 activity.

Cooperative action of multiple cis-acting elements is required for N-myc expression in branchial arches: specific contribution of GATA3

The precise expression of the N-myc proto-oncogene is essential for normal mammalian development, whereas altered N-myc gene regulation is known to be a determinant factor in tumor formation. Using transgenic mouse embryos, we show that N-myc sequences from kb -8.7 to kb +7.2 are sufficient to reproduce the N-myc embryonic expression profile in developing branchial arches and limb buds. These sequences encompass several regulatory elements dispersed throughout the N-myc locus, including an upstream limb bud enhancer, a downstream somite enhancer, a branchial arch enhancer in the second intron, and a negative regulatory element in the first intron. N-myc expression in the limb buds is under the dominant control of the limb bud enhancer. The expression in the branchial arches necessitates the interplay of three regulatory domains. The branchial arch enhancer cooperates with the somite enhancer region to prevent an inhibitory activity contained in the first intron. The characterization of the branchial arch enhancer has revealed a specific role of the transcription factor GATA3 in the regulation of N-myc expression. Together, these data demonstrate that correct N-myc developmental expression is achieved via cooperation of multiple positive and negative regulatory elements.

Transcription factor GATA-3 is essential for lens development

During vertebrate lens development, the anterior, ectoderm-derived lens vesicle cells differentiate into a monolayer of epithelial cells that retain proliferative potential. Subsequently, they exit the cell cycle and give rise to posterior lens fiber cells that form the lens body. In the present study, we demonstrate that the transcription factor GATA-3 is expressed in the posterior lens fiber cells during embryogenesis, and that GATA-3 deficiency impairs lens development. Interestingly, expression of E-cadherin, a premature lens vesicle marker, is abnormally prolonged in the posterior region of Gata3 homozygous mutant lenses. Furthermore, expression of gamma-crystallin, a differentiation marker for fiber cells, is reduced. This suppressed differentiation is accompanied by an abnormal cellular proliferation, as well as with diminished levels of the cell-cycle inhibitors Cdkn1b/p27 and Cdkn1c/p57 and increased Ccnd2/cyclin D2 abundance. Thus, these observations suggest that GATA-3 is essential for lens cells differentiation and proper cell cycle control.

Transcriptional and electrophysiological maturation of neocortical fast-spiking GABAergic interneurons

Fast-spiking (FS) interneurons are important elements of neocortical circuitry that constitute the primary source of synaptic inhibition in adult cortex and impart temporal organization on ongoing cortical activity. The highly specialized intrinsic membrane and firing properties that allow cortical FS interneurons to perform these functions are attributable to equally specialized gene expression, which is ultimately coordinated by cell-type-specific transcriptional regulation. Although embryonic transcriptional events govern the initial steps of cell-type specification in most cortical interneurons, including FS cells, the electrophysiological properties that distinguish adult cortical cell types emerge relatively late in postnatal development, and the transcriptional events that drive this maturational process are not known. To address this, we used mouse whole-genome microarrays and whole-cell patch clamp to characterize the transcriptional and electrophysiological maturation of cortical FS interneurons between postnatal day 7 (P7) and P40. We found that the intrinsic and synaptic physiology of FS cells undergoes profound regulation over the first 4 postnatal weeks and that these changes are correlated with primarily monotonic but bidirectional transcriptional regulation of thousands of genes belonging to multiple functional classes. Using our microarray screen as a guide, we discovered that upregulation of two-pore K(+) leak channels between P10 and P25 contributes to one of the major differences between the intrinsic membrane properties of immature and adult FS cells and found a number of other candidate genes that likely confer cell-type specificity on mature FS cells.

BRG1-mediated chromatin remodeling regulates differentiation and gene expression of T helper cells

During T helper cell differentiation, distinct programs of gene expression play a key role in defining the immune response to an environmental challenge. How chromatin remodeling events at the associated cytokine loci control differentiation is not known. We found that the ATP-dependent remodeling enzyme subunit BRG1 was required for T helper 2 (Th2) differentiation and Th2 cytokine transcription. BRG1 binding to cytokine genes was regulated by the extent of differentiation, the extent of activation, and cell fate. BRG1 was required for some features of the chromatin structure in target genes (DNase I hypersensitivity and histone acetylation), suggesting that BRG1 remodeling activity was directly responsible for changes in gene expression. NFAT and STAT6 activity were required for BRG1 recruitment to the Th2 locus control region, and STAT6 associated with BRG1 in a differentiation-inducible manner, suggesting direct recruitment of BRG1 to the bound loci. Together, these findings suggest BRG1 interprets differentiation signals and plays a causal role in gene regulation, chromatin structure, and cell fate.

Protein kinase C enhances tight junction barrier function of human nasal epithelial cells in primary culture by transcriptional regulation

The epithelium of upper respiratory tissues such as human nasal mucosa forms a continuous barrier via tight junctions, which is thought to be regulated in part through a protein kinase C (PKC) signaling pathway. To investigate the mechanisms of the regulation of PKC-mediated tight junction barrier function of human nasal epithelium in detail, primary human nasal epithelial cells were treated with the PKC activator 12-O-tetradecanoylophorbol-13-acetate (TPA). In primary human nasal epithelial cells, treatment with TPA led not only to activation of phosphorylation of PKC, myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate, and mitogen-activated protein kinase but also expression of novel PKC-delta, PKC-theta, and PKC-epsilon. Treatment with TPA increased transepithelial electrical resistance, with tight junction barrier function more than 4-fold that of the control, together with up-regulation of tight junction proteins, occludin, zona occludens (ZO)-1, ZO-2 and claudin-1 at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, it affected the subcellular localization of the tight junction proteins and the numbers of tight junction strands. The up-regulation of barrier function and tight junction proteins was prevented by a pan-PKC inhibitor, and the inhibitors of PKC-delta and PKC-theta but not PKC-epsilon. In primary human nasal epithelial cells, transcriptional factors GATA-3 and -6 were detected by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. The knockdown of GATA-3 using RNA interference resulted in inhibition of up-regulation of ZO-1 and ZO-2 by treatment with TPA. These results suggest that TPA-induced PKC signaling enhances the barrier function of human nasal epithelial cells via transcriptional up-regulation of tight junction proteins, and the mechanisms may contribute to a drug delivery system.

Expression of GATA-3 in epidermis and hair follicle: Relationship to p63

The epidermis is a multi-layered stratified epithelium continuously renewed by differentiating keratinocytes that develops by the action of p63, a member of the p53 family. The TP63 contains two promoters, resulting in the expression of different proteins, containing (TAp63) or not (DeltaNp63) an amino-terminal transactivation domain, which contribution in skin formation is not fully understood. We found that p63 binds and transactivate GATA-3 promoter, which in turn transactivate IKKalpha, two pivotal regulators of epithelial development. Indeed, GATA-3 is a regulator of cell lineage in skin and hair follicles formation. To further study the relationship between GATA-3 and p63 isoforms here we investigated their expression during keratinocyte differentiation, in human epidermis and hair follicle.

Notch directly regulates Gata3 expression during T helper 2 cell differentiation

Notch signaling plays multiple roles to direct diverse decisions regarding cell fate during T cell development. During helper T (Th) cell differentiation, Notch is involved in generating optimal Th2 cell responses. Here, we present data investigating how Notch mediates Th2 cell differentiation. Notch showed a CD4(+) T cell intrinsic role in promoting IL-4 expression that required GATA-3. In the absence of Notch signals, Gata3 expression was markedly diminished. Introduction of an activated allele of Notch1 into CD4(+) T cells led to the specific and direct upregulation of a developmentally regulated Gata3 transcript that included the exon 1a sequences. Furthermore, Notch acted in parallel with GATA-3 to synergistically activate IL-4 expression. Together, these data implicate Gata3 as a direct transcriptional Notch target that acts in concert with Notch signaling to generate optimal Th2 cell responses.

Dosage-dependent rescue of definitive nephrogenesis by a distant Gata3 enhancer

Human GATA3 haploinsufficiency leads to HDR (hypoparathyroidism, deafness and renal dysplasia) syndrome, demonstrating that the development of a specific subset of organs in which this transcription factor is expressed is exquisitely sensitive to gene dosage. We previously showed that murine GATA-3 is essential for definitive kidney development, and that a large YAC transgene faithfully recapitulated GATA-3 expression in the urogenital system. Here we describe the localization and activity of a kidney enhancer (KE) located 113 kbp 5' to the Gata3 structural gene. When the KE was employed to direct renal system-specific GATA-3 transcription, the extent of cell autonomous kidney rescue in Gata3-deficient mice correlated with graded allelic expression of transgenic GATA-3. These data demonstrate that a single distant, tissue-specific enhancer can direct GATA-3 gene expression to confer all embryonic patterning information that is required for successful execution of metanephrogenesis, and that the dosage of GATA-3 required has a threshold between 50% and 70% of diploid activity.

Regulation of GATA gene expression during vertebrate development

GATA factors regulate critical events in hematopoietic lineages (GATA-1/2/3), the heart and gut (GATA-4/5/6) and various other tissues. Transgenic approaches have revealed that GATA genes are regulated in a modular fashion by sets of enhancers that govern distinct temporal and/or spatial facets of the overall expression patterns. Efforts are underway to resolve how these GATA gene enhancers are themselves regulated in order to elucidate the genetic and molecular hierarchies that govern GATA expression in particular developmental contexts. These enhancers also afford a raft of tools that can be used to selectively perturb and probe various developmental events in transgenic animals.

Evolutionary origins of lymphocytes: ensembles of T cell and B cell transcriptional regulators in a cartilaginous fish

The evolutionary origins of lymphocytes can be traced by phylogenetic comparisons of key features. Homologs of rearranging TCR and Ig (B cell receptor) genes are present in jawed vertebrates, but have not been identified in other animal groups. In contrast, most of the transcription factors that are essential for the development of mammalian T and B lymphocytes belong to multigene families that are represented by members in the majority of the metazoans, providing a potential bridge to prevertebrate ancestral roles. This work investigates the structure and regulation of homologs of specific transcription factors known to regulate mammalian T and B cell development in a representative of the earliest diverging jawed vertebrates, the clearnose skate (Raja eglanteria). Skate orthologs of mammalian GATA-3, GATA-1, EBF-1, Pax-5, Pax-6, Runx2, and Runx3 have been characterized. GATA-3, Pax-5, Runx3, EBF-1, Spi-C, and most members of the Ikaros family are shown throughout ontogeny to be 1) coregulated with TCR or Ig expression, and 2) coexpressed with each other in combinations that for the most part correspond to known mouse T and B cell patterns, supporting conservation of function. These results indicate that multiple components of the gene regulatory networks that operate in mammalian T cell and B cell development were present in the common ancestor of the mammals and the cartilaginous fish. However, certain factors relevant to the B lineage differ in their tissue-specific expression patterns from their mouse counterparts, suggesting expanded or divergent B lineage characteristics or tissue specificity in these animals.

Regulation of Dlx3 gene expression in visceral arches by evolutionarily conserved enhancer elements

The mammalian Distal-less (Dlx) clusters (Dlx1-2, Dlx5-6, and Dlx3-7) have a nested expression pattern in developing visceral (branchial) arches. Genetic regulatory mechanisms controlling Dlx spatial expression within the visceral arches have not yet been defined. Here we show that an enhancer in the Dlx3-7 cluster can regulate the visceral arch specific expression pattern of the Dlx3 gene. We have used a 79-kb transgene construct containing the entire Dlx3-7 bigene cluster with a LacZ reporter inserted in frame in the first exon of the Dlx3 gene. Visceral arch expression is absent when a 4-kb element located within the Dlx3-7 intergenic region is deleted. A 245-bp element (I37-2) whose DNA sequence is highly conserved between human and mouse located within the 4kb-deleted region can drive visceral arch expression when fused to a hsp68-lacZ reporter transgene construct. Reporter expression is detected in 9.5 and 10.5 days postcoitum transgenic embryos in a manner consistent with the endogenous Dlx3 expression pattern in the mesenchyme of the first and second visceral arches. Thus the I37-2 element is both necessary and sufficient for Dlx3 expression. The I37-2 element contains several putative binding sites for several transcription factors including Dlx and other homeodomain proteins within the evolutionarily conserved region. Significantly, the I37-2 element shows a sequence-match including a Dlx binding site to a cis-element in the Dlx5-6 intermediate region designated mI56i [Zerucha, T., Stuhmer, T., Hatch, G., Park, B. K., Long, Q., Yu, G., Gambarotta, A., Schultz, J. R., Rubenstein, J. L. & Ekker, M. (2000) J. Neurosci. 20, 709-721], despite distant phylogenetic relationship between these clusters. Our results provide evidence for a concerted role for DLX auto- and cross-regulation in the establishment of a nested expression pattern for Dlx3-7 and Dlx5-6 clusters within the visceral arches.

Cytokine memory of T helper lymphocytes

Memory is one of the key features of the adaptive immune system. Specific T and B lymphocytes are primed for a particular antigen and upon challenge with it will react faster than naive lymphocytes. They also memorize the expression of key effector molecules, in particular cytokines, which determine the type and scale of an immune reaction. While in primary activations differential expression of cytokine genes is dependent on antigen-receptor signaling and differentiation signals, in later activations the expression is triggered by antigen-receptor signaling and dependent on the cytokine memory. The molecular basis of the cytokine memory implies differential expression of transcription factors and epigenetic modifications of cytokine genes and gene loci. GATA-3 for Th2 and T-bet for Th1 cells expressing interleukin-4 or interferon-gamma, respectively, are prime candidates for key transcription factors of cytokine memory. The essential role of epigenetic modifications is suggested by the requirement of DNA synthesis for the establishment of a cytokine memory in Th lymphocytes. At present the molecular link between transcription factors and epigenetic modifications of cytokine genes in the establishment and maintenance of cytokine memory is not clear. The initial cytokine memory is not stable against adverse differentiation signals, while in repeatedly stimulated lymphocytes it is stabilized by a variety of mechanisms.

Transcriptional regulation of GATA-3 by an intronic regulatory region and fetal liver zinc finger protein 1

GATA-3 is a T cell-specific transcription factor and is essential for the development of the T cell lineage. The transcriptional regulation of GATA-3, however, remains elusive. In this study, we report the identification of a regulatory region located within the first intron of the murine GATA-3 gene. The intronic regulatory region contains both a positive and a negative cis-acting element but, as a whole, serves as a potent T cell-specific enhancer and is essential for the promoter activity in vitro. By using yeast one-hybrid screening, we discovered that fetal liver zinc finger protein 1 (Fliz1) could bind specifically to the negative cis-acting element, the sequence of which is conserved between the mouse and human GATA-3 genes. More importantly, overexpression of Fliz1 repressed the expression of GATA-3 in vivo and in vitro. Our data suggest that the expression of GATA-3 might be partly regulated by the intronic regulatory region and Fliz1 in a developmental stage-specific fashion.

Cutting edge: Identification of an alternative GATA-3 promoter directing tissue-specific gene expression in mouse and human

The GATA family of transcription factors regulates development of multiple tissues. Several GATA factors have two promoters directing distinct tissue-specific expression. Although GATA-3 acts in both neuronal and thymocyte development, no alternative promoter usage has been reported. We examined various cell types and tissues for potential alternative GATA-3 transcripts and identified an alternative transcript directed by a promoter located 10 kb upstream of the recognized promoter. Sequences within this promoter and alternative first exon are highly conserved between mouse and human genomes. This new promoter is expressed selectively in the brain but is essentially undetectable in the thymus. In contrast, the recognized promoter is selectively expressed in the thymus but not in the brain. We also observed a gradual increase in expression from this new promoter during Th2 development. These results indicate that similar to other GATA factors, the GATA-3 gene can be controlled by two promoters that may direct lineage- and tissue-specific expression.

Acetylation of GATA-3 affects T-cell survival and homing to secondary lymphoid organs

Acetylation of a transcription factor has recently been shown to play a significant role in gene regulation. Here we show that GATA-3 is acetylated in T cells and that a mutation introduced into amino acids 305-307 (KRR-GATA3) creates local hypoacetylation in GATA-3. Remarkably, KRR-GATA3 possesses the most potent suppressive effect when compared with other mutants that are disrupted in putative acetylation targets. Expressing this mutant in peripheral T cells results in defective T-cell homing to systemic lymphnodes, and prolonged T-cell survival after activation. These findings have significant implications in that the acetylation state of GATA-3 affects its physiological function in the immune system and, more importantly, provides evidence for the novel role of GATA-3 in T-cell survival and homing to secondary lymphoid organs.

GATA2 is required for the generation of V2 interneurons

During embryogenesis, transcription factor GATA2 is expressed in a variety of distinct cell types, and earlier experiments showed that GATA2 is a vital regulator of both hematopoiesis and urogenital development. Despite the fact that GATA2 is expressed early and abundantly in the nervous system, there has been no demonstration of its direct participation in neurogenesis. We show here that GATA2 is expressed in the ventral spinal cord exclusively in newly generated V2 interneurons, suggesting that GATA2 might be required for the generation of this discrete neuronal population. Proof for this hypothesis was provided by showing that the number of cells expressing V2 neuronal markers was drastically diminished in gata2 null mutant embryos. The tissue-specific enhancer that directs gata2 transcription specifically in V2 neurons was localized to a 190 bp intragenic element lying within gata2 intron 5, and this element is both necessary and sufficient to confer GATA2 spinal cord expression. The identification of a V2-specific enhancer should allow fundamental new insight into the genetic hierarchy of regulatory events that govern neurogenesis in a well-defined cell lineage.

Gata3 loss leads to embryonic lethality due to noradrenaline deficiency of the sympathetic nervous system

Mouse embryos deficient in Gata3 die by 11 days post coitum (d.p.c.) from pathology of undetermined origin. We recently showed that Gata3-directed lacZ expression of a 625-kb Gata3 YAC transgene in mice mimics endogenous Gata3 expression, except in thymus and the sympathoadrenal system. As this transgene failed to overcome embryonic lethality (unpublished data and ref. 3) in Gata3-/- mice, we hypothesized that a neuroendocrine deficiency in the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) might cause embryonic lethality in these mutants. We find here that null mutation of Gata3 leads to reduced accumulation of Th (encoding tyrosine hydroxylase, Th) and Dbh (dopamine beta-hydroxylase, Dbh) mRNA, whereas several other SNS genes are unaffected. We show that Th and Dbh deficiencies lead to reduced noradrenaline in the SNS, and that noradrenaline deficiency is a proximal cause of death in mutants by feeding catechol intermediates to pregnant dams, thereby partially averting Gata3 mutation-induced lethality. These older, pharmacologically rescued mutants revealed abnormalities that previously could not be detected in untreated mutants. These late embryonic defects include renal hypoplasia and developmental defects in structures derived from cephalic neural crest cells. Thus we have shown that Gata3 has a role in the differentiation of multiple cell lineages during embryogenesis.

Lmo2 and GATA-3 associated expression in intraembryonic hemogenic sites

It is now widely accepted that hemopoietic cells born intraembryonically are the best candidates for the seeding of definitive hemopoietic organs. To further understand the mechanisms involved in the generation of definitive hemopoietic stem cells, we analysed the expression of the hemopoietic-related transcription factors Lmo2 and GATA-3 during the early steps of mouse development (7-12 dpc), with a particular emphasis on intraembryonic hemogenic sites. We show here that both Lmo2 and GATA-3 are present in the intraembryonic regions known to give rise to hemopoietic precursors in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that they act together at key points of hemopoietic development. (1) Lmo2 and GATA-3 are expressed in the caudal mesoderm during the phase of intraembryonic precursors determination. (2) A highly transient concomitant expression is observed in the caudal intraembryonic definitive endoderm, suggesting that these factors are involved in the specification of intraembryonic hemopoietic precursors. (3) Lmo2 and GATA-3 are expressed within the hemopoietic clusters located in the aortic floor during fetal liver colonisation. Furthermore, a strong GATA-3 signal allowed us to uncover previously unreported mesodermal aggregates beneath the aorta. A combined in situ and immunocytological analysis strongly suggests that ventral mesodermal GATA-3 patches are involved in the process of intraembryonic stem cell generation.

The human and mouse GATA-6 genes utilize two promoters and two initiation codons

GATA-6 has been implicated in the regulation of myocardial differentiation during cardiogenesis. To determine how its expression is controlled, we have characterized the human and mouse genes. We have mapped their transcriptional start sites and demonstrate that two alternative promoters and 5' noncoding exons are utilized. Both transcript isoforms are expressed in the same tissue-specific and developmental stage-specific pattern, and their ratio appears similar wherever examined. The more upstream noncoding exon showed a substantial degree of homology between the two mammalian species, suggesting a conserved regulatory function. Moreover, in transfection assays we show that elements within this exon act to promote its transcription. Positive regulatory elements that effect transcription from the more downstream exon were not apparent in this assay, revealing a regulatory distinction between the two promoters. We also demonstrate alternative initiator codon usage in both the human and mouse GATA-6 genes. Both isoforms of the protein are synthesized in vitro regardless of which 5' noncoding exon is present in the RNA, although the larger protein has greater transcriptional activation potential in transfection assays. Thus, GATA-6 function in the cell is controlled by a complex interplay of transcriptional and translational regulation.

The transcription factor GATA3 is a downstream effector of Hoxb1 specification in rhombomere 4

In this paper, we show that the transcription factor GATA3 is dynamically expressed during hindbrain development. Function of GATA3 in ventral rhombomere (r) 4 is dependent on functional GATA2, which in turn is under the control of Hoxb1. In particular, the absence of Hoxb1 results in the loss of GATA2 expression in r4 and the absence of GATA2 results in the loss of GATA3 expression. The lack of GATA3 expression in r4 inhibits the projection of contralateral vestibuloacoustic efferent neurons and the migration of facial branchiomotor neurons similar to Hoxb1-deficient mice. Ubiquitous expression of Hoxb1 in the hindbrain induces ectopic expression of GATA2 and GATA3 in ventral r2 and r3. These findings demonstrate that GATA2 and GATA3 lie downstream of Hoxb1 and provide the first example of Hox pathway transcription factors within a defined population of vertebrate motor neurons.

Temporal activation of the sea urchin late H1 gene requires stage-specific phosphorylation of the embryonic transcription factor SSAP

Stage-specific activator protein (SSAP) is a 41-kDa polypeptide that binds to embryonic enhancer elements of the sea urchin late H1 gene. These enhancer elements mediate the transcriptional activation of the late H1 gene in a temporally specific manner at the mid-blastula stage of embryogenesis. Although SSAP can transactivate the late H1 gene only at late stages of the development, it resides in the sea urchin nucleus and maintains DNA binding activity throughout early embryogenesis. In addition, it has been shown that SSAP undergoes a conversion from a 41-kDa monomer to a approximately 80- to 100-kDa dimer when the late H1 gene is activated. We have demonstrated that SSAP is differentially phosphorylated during embryogenesis. Serine 87, a cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase consensus site located in the N-terminal DNA binding domain, is constitutively phosphorylated. At the mid-blastula stage of embryogenesis, temporally correlated with SSAP dimer formation and late H1 gene activation, a threonine residue in the C-terminal transactivation domain is phosphorylated. This phosphorylation can be catalyzed by a break-ended double-stranded DNA-activated protein kinase activity from the sea urchin nucleus in vitro. Microinjection of synthetic SSAP mRNAs encoding either serine or threonine phosphorylation mutants results in the failure to transactivate reporter genes that contain the enhancer element, suggesting that both serine and threonine phosphorylation of SSAP are required for the activation of the late H1 gene. Furthermore, SSAP can undergo blastula-stage-specific homodimerization through its GQ-rich transactivation domain. The late-specific threonine phosphorylation in this domain is essential for the dimer assembly. These observations indicate that temporally regulated SSAP activation is promoted by threonine phosphorylation on its transactivation domain, which triggers the formation of a transcriptionally active SSAP homodimer.

T-cell expression of the human GATA-3 gene is regulated by a non-lineage-specific silencer

The GATA-3 transcription factor is required for development of the T-cell lineage and Th2 cytokine gene expression in CD4 T-cells. We have mapped the DNase-I-hypersensitive (HS) regions of the human GATA-3 gene in T-cells and non-T-cells and studied their transcriptional activities. HS I-III, located 5' from the transcriptional initiation site, were found in hematopoietic and non-hematopoietic cells, whereas HS IV-VII, located 3' from the transcriptional start site, were exclusively observed in T-cells. Among these hypersensitive sites, two transcriptional control elements were found, one in the first intron of the GATA-3 gene and the other between 8.3 and 5.9 kilobases 5' from the GATA-3 transcriptional initiation site. The first intron acted as a strong transcriptional activator in a position-dependent manner and with no cell-type specificity. The upstream regulatory element could confer T-cell specificity to the GATA-3 promoter activity, and analysis of this region revealed a 707-base pair silencer that drastically inhibited GATA-3 promoter activity in non-T-cells. Two CAGGTG E-boxes, located at the 5'- and 3'-ends of the silencer, were necessary for this silencer activity. The 3'-CAGGTG E-box could bind USF proteins, the ubiquitous repressor ZEB, or the basic helix-loop-helix proteins E2A and HEB, and we showed that a competition between ZEB and E2A/HEB proteins is involved in the silencer activity.

Localization of distant urogenital system-, central nervous system-, and endocardium-specific transcriptional regulatory elements in the GATA-3 locus

We found previously that neither a 6-kbp promoter fragment nor even a 120-kbp yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) containing the whole GATA-3 gene was sufficient to recapitulate its full transcription pattern during embryonic development in transgenic mice. In an attempt to further identify tissue-specific regulatory elements modulating the dynamic embryonic pattern of the GATA-3 gene, we have examined the expression of two much larger (540- and 625-kbp) GATA-3 YACs in transgenic animals. A lacZ reporter gene was first inserted into both large GATA-3 YACs. The transgenic YAC patterns were then compared to those of embryos bearing the identical lacZ insertion in the chromosomal GATA-3 locus (creating GATA-3/lacZ "knock-ins"). We found that most of the YAC expression sites and tissues are directly reflective of the endogenous pattern, and detailed examination of the integrated YAC transgenes allowed the general localization of a number of very distant transcriptional regulatory elements (putative central nervous system-, endocardium-, and urogenital system-specific enhancers). Remarkably, even the 625-kbp GATA-3 YAC, containing approximately 450 kbp and 150 kbp of 5' and 3' flanking sequences, respectively, does not contain the full transcriptional regulatory potential of the endogenous locus and is clearly missing regulatory elements that confer tissue-specific expression to GATA-3 in a subset of neural crest-derived cell lineages.

Partial rescue of GATA-3 by yeast artificial chromosome transgenes

GATA-3 is essential for murine embryonic development, but elucidating the genetic controls over the complex temporal and tissue-specific transcriptional regulatory pattern of this transcription factor gene has been problematic. Here we report the isolation and characterization of two yeast artificial chromosomes (YACs) bearing the murine GATA-3 gene. Ordered deletions of both YACs show that they define a 1-megabase pair contig spanning the GATA-3 locus. We found that a 120-kb YAC transgene, including 35 kb of 5' as well as 60 kb of 3' flanking sequence, confers normal GATA-3 expression at sites not revealed previously through analysis of plasmid transgenic lines. However, even this 120-kb YAC does not contain sufficient information to recapitulate the complete GATA-3 expression program during embryogenesis. While not complete in its regulatory capacity, the YAC transgene is nonetheless able to complement several homozygous GATA-3 mutant phenotypes and thereby prolong embryonic life.

Inhibition of Th1 development mediated by GATA-3 through an IL-4-independent mechanism

Recently, the transcription factor GATA-3 was shown to be selectively expressed in Th2 but not Th1 cells and to augment Th2-specific cytokines. Here, we show that loss of GATA-3 expression by developing Th1 cells requires IL-12 signaling through Stat4 and does not simply result from an absence of IL-4. Moreover, we demonstrate a novel role for GATA-3 in directly repressing Th1 development distinct from its positive actions on Th2-specific cytokines. GATA-3 inhibits Th1 cytokines by a cell-intrinsic mechanism that is not dependent on IL-4 and that may involve repression of IL-12 signaling. Thus, GATA-3 expression and IL-12 signaling are mutually antagonistic, which facilitates rapid dominance of one pathway during early Th development, producing a stable divergence in cytokine profiles.