Myogenesis and MyoD down-regulate Sp1. A mechanism for the repression of GLUT1 during muscle cell differentiation

The microRNA miR-133b functions to slow Duchenne muscular dystrophy pathogenesis

KEY POINTS

Impairment of muscle biogenesis contributes to the progression of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). As a muscle enriched microRNA that has been implicated in muscle biogenesis, the role of miR-133b in DMD remains unknown. To assess miR-133b function in DMD-affected skeletal muscles, we genetically ablated miR-133b in the mdx mouse model of DMD. We show that deletion of miR-133b exacerbates the dystrophic phenotype of DMD-afflicted skeletal muscle by dysregulating muscle stem cells involved in muscle biogenesis, in addition to affecting signalling pathways related to inflammation and fibrosis. Our results provide evidence that miR-133b may underlie DMD pathology by affecting the proliferation and differentiation of muscle stem cells.

ABSTRACT

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by progressive skeletal muscle degeneration. No treatments are currently available to prevent the disease. While the muscle enriched microRNA miR-133b has been implicated in muscle biogenesis, its role in DMD remains unknown. To assess miR-133b function in DMD-affected skeletal muscles, we genetically ablated miR-133b in the mdx mouse model of DMD. In the absence of miR-133b, the tibialis anterior muscle of P30 mdx mice is smaller in size and exhibits a thickened interstitial space containing more mononucleated cells. Additional analysis revealed that miR-133b deletion influences muscle fibre regeneration, satellite cell proliferation and differentiation, and induces widespread transcriptomic changes in mdx muscle. These include known miR-133b targets as well as genes involved in cell proliferation and fibrosis. Altogether, our data demonstrate that skeletal muscles utilize miR-133b to mitigate the deleterious effects of DMD.

Muscle-relevant genes marked by stable H3K4me2/3 profiles and enriched MyoD binding during myogenic differentiation

Post-translational modifications of histones play a key role in the regulation of gene expression during development and differentiation. Numerous studies have shown the dynamics of combinatorial regulation by transcription factors and histone modifications, in the sense that different combinations lead to distinct expression outcomes. Here, we investigated gene regulation by stable enrichment patterns of histone marks H3K4me2 and H3K4me3 in combination with the chromatin binding of the muscle tissue-specific transcription factor MyoD during myogenic differentiation of C2C12 cells. Using k-means clustering, we found that specific combinations of H3K4me2/3 profiles over and towards the gene body impact on gene expression and marks a subset of genes important for muscle development and differentiation. By further analysis, we found that the muscle key regulator MyoD was significantly enriched on this subset of genes and played a repressive role during myogenic differentiation. Among these genes, we identified the pluripotency gene Patz1, which is repressed during myogenic differentiation through direct binding of MyoD to promoter elements. These results point to the importance of integrating histone modifications and MyoD chromatin binding for coordinated gene activation and repression during myogenic differentiation.

Identification of Keratin 19-Positive Cancer Stem Cells Associating Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography

Purpose: The current lack of tools for easy assessment of cancer stem cells (CSC) prevents the development of therapeutic strategies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We previously reported that keratin 19 (K19) is a novel HCC-CSC marker and that PET with ¹⁸F-fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸F-FDG) is an effective method for predicting postoperative outcome in hepatocellular carcinoma. Herein, we examined whether K19⁺ HCC-CSCs can be tracked using ¹⁸F-FDG-PET.Experimental Design: K19 and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) expression was evaluated by IHC in 98 hepatocellular carcinoma patients who underwent ¹⁸F-FDG-PET scans before primary tumor resection. Standardized uptake values (SUV) for primary tumors and tumor-to-nontumor SUV ratios (TNR) were calculated using FDG accumulation levels, and values were compared among K19⁺/K19^- patients. Using hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines encoding with a K19 promoter-driven enhanced GFP, ¹⁸F-FDG uptake and GLUT1 expression were examined in FACS-isolated K19⁺/K19^- cells.Results: In hepatocellular carcinoma patients, K19 expression was significantly correlated with GLUT1 expression and FDG accumulation. ROC analyses revealed that among preoperative clinical factors, TNR was the most sensitive indicator of K19 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma tumors. In hepatocellular carcinoma cells, FACS-isolated K19⁺ cells displayed significantly higher ¹⁸F-FDG uptake than K19^- cells. Moreover, gain/loss-of-function experiments confirmed that K19 regulates ¹⁸F-FDG uptake through TGFβ/Smad signaling, including Sp1 and its downstream target GLUT1.Conclusions:¹⁸F-FDG-PET can be used to predict K19 expression in hepatocellular carcinoma and should thereby aid in the development of novel therapeutic strategies targeting K19⁺ HCC-CSCs. Clin Cancer Res; 23(6); 1450-60. ©2016 AACR.

Glucose Transporters in Cardiac Metabolism and Hypertrophy

The heart is adapted to utilize all classes of substrates to meet the high-energy demand, and it tightly regulates its substrate utilization in response to environmental changes. Although fatty acids are known as the predominant fuel for the adult heart at resting stage, the heart switches its substrate preference toward glucose during stress conditions such as ischemia and pathological hypertrophy. Notably, increasing evidence suggests that the loss of metabolic flexibility associated with increased reliance on glucose utilization contribute to the development of cardiac dysfunction. The changes in glucose metabolism in hypertrophied hearts include altered glucose transport and increased glycolysis. Despite the role of glucose as an energy source, changes in other nonenergy producing pathways related to glucose metabolism, such as hexosamine biosynthetic pathway and pentose phosphate pathway, are also observed in the diseased hearts. This article summarizes the current knowledge regarding the regulation of glucose transporter expression and translocation in the heart during physiological and pathological conditions. It also discusses the signaling mechanisms governing glucose uptake in cardiomyocytes, as well as the changes of cardiac glucose metabolism under disease conditions.

Interactions between mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and cellular glucose metabolism

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and detoxification are tightly balanced. Shifting this balance enables ROS to activate intracellular signaling and/or induce cellular damage and cell death. Increased mitochondrial ROS production is observed in a number of pathological conditions characterized by mitochondrial dysfunction. One important hallmark of these diseases is enhanced glycolytic activity and low or impaired oxidative phosphorylation. This suggests that ROS is involved in glycolysis (dys)regulation and vice versa. Here we focus on the bidirectional link between ROS and the regulation of glucose metabolism. To this end, we provide a basic introduction into mitochondrial energy metabolism, ROS generation and redox homeostasis. Next, we discuss the interactions between cellular glucose metabolism and ROS. ROS-stimulated cellular glucose uptake can stimulate both ROS production and scavenging. When glucose-stimulated ROS production, leading to further glucose uptake, is not adequately counterbalanced by (glucose-stimulated) ROS scavenging systems, a toxic cycle is triggered, ultimately leading to cell death. Here we inventoried the various cellular regulatory mechanisms and negative feedback loops that prevent this cycle from occurring. It is concluded that more insight in these processes is required to understand why they are (un)able to prevent excessive ROS production during various pathological conditions in humans.

Diversity in the utilization of glucose and lactate in synthetic mammalian myotubes generated by engineered configurations of MyoD and E12 in otherwise non-differentiation growth conditions

We previously used the expression of various combinations and configurations of MyoD and E12, two basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors (TF), to produce populations of myotubes assuming distinct morphology, myofibrillar development and Ca2+ dynamics, from mammalian C2C12 myoblasts in non-differentiation growth conditions. Here, we assessed the synthetically generated myotubes in terms of energetics, otherwise necessary to sustain their mechanical output as bio-actuators. We found that the myotubes exhibit changed expression of key regulators for the uptake and utilization of two major cellular fuels, glucose and lactate. Furthermore, while lactate transport was uniformly slowed in all the populations of myotubes, glucose uptake and utilization were modified by particular TF configuration. Our approach allows the production of a class of biomaterials with predetermined energetics that could be applied in biorobotics, where fuel of choice could be used, and also in reparative medicine where, for example, particular population of myotubes could be additionally employed as glucose sinks to mitigate effects of secondary metabolic syndrome.

Chitinase-3-like protein 1 protects skeletal muscle from TNFα-induced inflammation and insulin resistance

CHI3L1 (chitinase-3-like protein 1) is a glycoprotein consisting of 383 amino acids with a molecular mass of 40 kDa, and its serum level is elevated in inflammatory diseases. Although CHI3L1 is described as a biomarker of inflammation, the function of this protein is not completely understood. In the present study, we examined the regulation of CHI3L1 in primary human skeletal muscle cells. Moreover, we analysed potential autocrine effects of CHI3L1. We show that myotubes express CHI3L1 in a differentiation-dependent manner. Furthermore, pro-inflammatory cytokines up-regulate CHI3L1 expression (6-fold) and release (3-fold). Importantly, CHI3L1 treatment blocked TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α)-induced inflammation by inhibiting NF-κB (nuclear factor κB) activation in skeletal muscle cells. We show that this effect is mediated via PAR2 (protease-activated receptor 2). In addition, CHI3L1 treatment diminished the TNFα-induced expression and secretion of IL (interleukin)-8, MCP1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein 1) and IL-6. In addition, impaired insulin action at the level of Akt and GSK3α/β (glycogen synthase kinase 3α/β) phosphoryl-ation and insulin-stimulated glucose uptake was normalized by CHI3L1. In conclusion, the novel myokine CHI3L1, which is induced by pro-inflammatory cytokines, can counteract TNFα-mediated inflammation and insulin resistance in human skeletal muscle cells, potentially involving an auto- and/or para-crine mechanism.

Expression of conventional and novel glucose transporters, GLUT1, -9, -10, and -12, in vascular smooth muscle cells

Intimal hyperplasia is characterized by exaggerated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Enhanced VSMC growth is dependent on increased glucose uptake and metabolism. Facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) are comprised of conventional GLUT isoforms (GLUT1-5) and novel GLUT isoforms (GLUT6-14). Previous studies demonstrate that GLUT1 overexpression or GLUT10 downregulation contribute to phenotypic changes in VSMCs. To date, the expression profile of all 14 GLUT isoforms has not been fully examined in VSMCs. Using the proliferative and differentiated phenotypes of human aortic VSMCs, the present study has determined the relative abundance of GLUT1-14 mRNAs by quantitative real-time PCR analysis. Twelve GLUT mRNAs excluding GLUT7 and GLUT14 were detectable in VSMCs. In the proliferative phenotype, the relative abundance of key GLUT mRNAs was GLUT1 (∼43%)>GLUT10 (∼26%)>GLUT9 (∼13%)>GLUT12 (∼4%), whereas in the differentiated phenotype the relative abundance was GLUT10 (∼28%)>GLUT1 (∼25%)>GLUT12 (∼20%)>GLUT9 (∼14%), together constituting 86-87% of total GLUT transcripts. To confirm the expression of key GLUT proteins, immunoblot and immunocytochemical analyses were performed using GLUT isoform-specific primary antibodies. The protein bands characteristic of GLUT1, -9, -10, and -12 were detected in VSMCs in parallel with respective positive controls. In particular, GLUT1 protein expression showed different molecular forms representative of altered glycosylation. While GLUT1 protein displayed a predominant distribution in the plasma membrane, GLUT9, -10, and -12 proteins were mostly distributed in the intracellular compartments. The present study provides the first direct evidence for GLUT9 and GLUT12 expression in VSMCs in conjunction with the previously identified GLUT1 and GLUT10.

miR-203b: a novel regulator of MyoD expression in tilapia skeletal muscle

MyoD is one of the helix-loop-helix proteins regulating muscle-specific gene expression in tilapia. Tight regulation of MyoD protein level is necessary for the precise regulation of skeletal muscle development. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of regulatory RNAs that post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression. Increasing evidences have suggested that miRNAs play an important role in regulating skeletal muscle development. We reasoned that MyoD expression may be regulated by miRNAs. Bioinformatics prediction identify a putative miR-203b target site in the 3’-UTR of MyoD gene. Interestingly, miR-203b expression is negatively correlated is negatively correlated with MyoD expression. miR-203b suppression leads to a significant increase in MyoD expression, thereby activating MyoD downstream gene. 3’-UTR luciferase reporter assay further verifies the direct interaction between miR-203b and MyoD. Taken together, our studies reveal a novel molecular mechanism in which miRNA participates in transcriptional circuits that regulates gene expression in tilapia skeletal muscle.

The Krüppel-like factor 15 as a molecular link between myogenic factors and a chromosome 4q transcriptional enhancer implicated in facioscapulohumeral dystrophy

Facioscapulohumeral muscular dystrophy (FSHD), a dominant hereditary disease with a prevalence of 7 per 100,000 individuals, is associated with a partial deletion in the subtelomeric D4Z4 repeat array on chromosome 4q. The D4Z4 repeat contains a strong transcriptional enhancer that activates promoters of several FSHD-related genes. We report here that the enhancer within the D4Z4 repeat binds the Krüppel-like factor KLF15. KLF15 was found to be up-regulated during myogenic differentiation induced by serum starvation or by overexpression of the myogenic differentiation factor MYOD. When overexpressed, KLF15 activated the D4Z4 enhancer and led to overexpression of DUX4c (Double homeobox 4, centromeric) and FRG2 (FSHD region gene 2) genes, whereas its silencing caused inactivation of the D4Z4 enhancer. In immortalized human myoblasts, the D4Z4 enhancer was activated by the myogenic factor MYOD, an effect that was abolished upon KLF15 silencing or when the KLF15-binding sites within the D4Z4 enhancer were mutated, indicating that the myogenesis-related activation of the D4Z4 enhancer was mediated by KLF15. KLF15 and several myogenesis-related factors were found to be expressed at higher levels in myoblasts, myotubes, and muscle biopsies from FSHD patients than in healthy controls. We propose that KLF15 serves as a molecular link between myogenic factors and the activity of the D4Z4 enhancer, and it thus contributes to the overexpression of the DUX4c and FRG2 genes during normal myogenic differentiation and in FSHD.

Will the original glucose transporter isoform please stand up!

Monosaccharides enter cells by slow translipid bilayer diffusion by rapid, protein-mediated, cation-dependent cotransport and by rapid, protein-mediated equilibrative transport. This review addresses protein-mediated, equilibrative glucose transport catalyzed by GLUT1, the first equilibrative glucose transporter to be identified, purified, and cloned. GLUT1 is a polytopic, membrane-spanning protein that is one of 13 members of the human equilibrative glucose transport protein family. We review GLUT1 catalytic and ligand-binding properties and interpret these behaviors in the context of several putative mechanisms for protein-mediated transport. We conclude that no single model satisfactorily explains GLUT1 behavior. We then review GLUT1 topology, subunit architecture, and oligomeric structure and examine a new model for sugar transport that combines structural and kinetic analyses to satisfactorily reproduce GLUT1 behavior in human erythrocytes. We next review GLUT1 cell biology and the transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of GLUT1 expression in the context of development and in response to glucose perturbations and hypoxia in blood-tissue barriers. Emphasis is placed on transgenic GLUT1 overexpression and null mutant model systems, the latter serving as surrogates for the human GLUT1 deficiency syndrome. Finally, we review the role of GLUT1 in the absence or deficiency of a related isoform, GLUT3, toward establishing the physiological significance of coordination between these two isoforms.

Identification of Sp1 and GC-boxes as transcriptional regulators of mouse Dag1 gene promoter

Dystroglycan is a widely expressed adhesion complex that anchors cells to the basement membrane and is involved in embryonic development and differentiation. Dystroglycan expression is frequently reduced in human dystrophies and malignancies, and its molecular functions are not completely understood. Several posttranslational mechanisms have been identified that regulate dystroglycan expression and/or function, while little is known about how expression of the corresponding Dag1 gene is regulated. This study aimed to clone the Dag1 gene promoter and to characterize its regulatory elements. Analysis of the mouse Dag1 gene 5'-flanking region revealed a TATA and CAAT box-lacking promoter including a GC-rich region. Transfection studies with serially deleted promoter constructs allowed us to identify a minimal promoter region containing three Specificity protein 1 (Sp1) sites and an E-box. Sp1 binding was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, and Sp1 downregulation reduced dystroglycan expression in muscle cells. Treatment with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and/or the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A increased Dag1 mRNA expression levels in myoblasts, and methylation decreased promoter activity in vitro. Furthermore, Dag1 gene promoter methylation was reduced while its expression increased during differentiation of C(2)C(12) myoblast cells in myotubes. In conclusion, for the first time we have characterized the activity of the mouse Dag1 gene promoter, confirming a complex regulation by Sp1 transcription factor, DNA methylation, and histone acetylation, which might be relevant for a better understanding of the physiopathology of the dystroglycan complex.

Expression of rainbow trout glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT4 during in vitro muscle cell differentiation and regulation by insulin and IGF-I

Insulin is an important factor for the maintenance of glucose homeostasis, enhancing glucose uptake in its target tissues in a process that has been conserved between fish and mammals. In fish skeletal muscle cells, like in mammals, insulin promotes GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane and, consequently, glucose uptake, but its role regulating the expression of glucose transporters in vitro has not been demonstrated to date. Thus, we investigated the expression of GLUT4 and GLUT1 throughout skeletal muscle cell differentiation and their regulation by insulin and IGF-I using a primary culture of trout muscle cells. GLUT4 expression gradually increased during the muscle cell differentiation process, whereas GLUT1 expression remained fairly constant. Insulin and IGF-I similarly increased the mRNA levels of GLUT4 in myoblasts and myotubes. On the other hand, IGF-I appeared to be more potent than insulin in stimulating GLUT1 expression, particularly at the myoblast stage. Therefore, this work provides the first demonstration in nonmammalian vertebrates that insulin and IGF-I may act directly on trout muscle cells to regulate the expression of GLUT4 and GLUT1.

Identification of a novel modulator of thyroid hormone receptor-mediated action

Background

Diabetes is characterized by reduced thyroid function and altered myogenesis after muscle injury. Here we identify a novel component of thyroid hormone action that is repressed in diabetic rat muscle.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We have identified a gene, named DOR, abundantly expressed in insulin-sensitive tissues such as skeletal muscle and heart, whose expression is highly repressed in muscle from obese diabetic rats. DOR expression is up-regulated during muscle differentiation and its loss-of-function has a negative impact on gene expression programmes linked to myogenesis or driven by thyroid hormones. In agreement with this, DOR enhances the transcriptional activity of the thyroid hormone receptor TR_α1. This function is driven by the N-terminal part of the protein. Moreover, DOR physically interacts with TR _α1 and to T₃-responsive promoters, as shown by ChIP assays. T₃ stimulation also promotes the mobilization of DOR from its localization in nuclear PML bodies, thereby indicating that its nuclear localization and cellular function may be related.

Conclusions/Significance

Our data indicate that DOR modulates thyroid hormone function and controls myogenesis. DOR expression is down-regulated in skeletal muscle in diabetes. This finding may be of relevance for the alterations in muscle function associated with this disease.

Lipopolysaccharide causes Sp1 protein degradation by inducing a unique trypsin-like serine protease in rat lungs

We have previously demonstrated that challenge of rat or mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vivo promotes Sp1 protein degradation. The protease responsible for the LPS-induced Sp1 degradation has not been identified. In this study, we have identified, characterized and partially purified an LPS-inducible Sp1-degrading enzyme (LISPDE) activity from rat lungs. LISPDE activity selectively degraded Sp1, but not nuclear protein, C-fos, p65, I-kappaBalpha and protein actin. Nuclear extract contains approximately 14-fold of the LISPDE activity as that detected in cytoplasmic extract, suggesting that LISPDE is predominantly a nuclear protease. Using biochemical reagents, protease inhibitors and peptide substrates, we have characterized the LISPDE activity. Based on biochemical characteristics, inhibitor profile, and substrate specificity, we have shown that LISPDE activity is not 26S proteasome, caspase or cathepsin-like activity, but is a trypsin-like serine protease activity. Using soybean trypsin inhibitor (SBTI)-sepharose affinity column, we have partially purified the LISPDE protein, which has an estimated molecular mass of 33 kDa and selectively degrades native Sp1 protein. We mapped the initial site for proteolytic cleavage of Sp1 by LISPDE to be located within the region between amino acids 181-328. We conclude that LPS causes Sp1 degradation by inducing a unique trypsin-like serine protease, LISPDE.

Prenatal developmental changes in glucose transporters, intermediary metabolism and hormonal receptors related to the IGF/insulin-glucose axis in the heart and adipose tissue of bovines

Glucose transporter ontogenesis is likely to play a key role in glucose uptake by foetal tissues in order to satisfy their energy requirements. We thus investigated developmental changes in the bovine heart and perirenal adipose tissue in two glucose transporter isoforms, namely GLUT1 and GLUT4, the latter being responsible for the regulation of glucose uptake by insulin. Other key players of the glucose/insulin axis were also assessed. Plasma glucose concentration in the foetus was lower at 8 and 8.5 months of age than previously. In the heart, GLUT1 protein level markedly decreased between 3 and 4 months of age, whereas the number of insulin and IGF-I binding sites continually decreased, especially between 7 and 8 or 8.5 months of age. On the contrary, the GLUT4 level increased until 8 months of age and remained high until 2 weeks after birth. The activities of enzymes of glucose metabolism (namely phosphofructokinase [PFK] and lactate dehydrogenase [LDH]) increased throughout gestation and reached a plateau at 6 and 8.5 months of age for PFK and LDH, respectively. The activities of enzymes involved in fatty acid metabolism increased especially at birth. In perirenal adipose tissue, high mitochondrial activity was detected before birth which is a characteristic of brown adipose tissue. Furthermore, lipoprotein lipase activity and GLUT4 protein level markedly increased to reach a maximum at 6-7 and 8 months of age, and sharply decreased thereafter, whereas GLUT1 protein level increased between 6 and 7 months of age. In conclusion, considerable changes in the regulation of the insulin/glucose axis were observed from 6 months onwards of foetal development in both the heart and adipose tissue of cattle, which probably alters the potential of these tissues to use glucose or fat as energy sources.

Control of mitochondrial biogenesis during myogenesis

We used expression and reporter gene analysis to understand how changes in transcription factors impinge on mitochondrial gene expression during myogenesis of cultured murine myoblasts (C2C12 and Sol8). The mRNA levels for nuclear respiratory factor-1 (NRF-1) and NRF-2α increased 60% by the third day of myogenesis, whereas NRF-1 and NRF-2 reporter gene activity increased by fivefold over the same period. Although peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPARα) mRNA levels increased almost 10-fold, the activity of a PPAR reporter was unchanged during myogenesis. The PPAR coactivator PPAR-γ coactivator-1α (PGC1α), a master controller of mitochondrial biogenesis, was not expressed at detectable levels. However, the mRNA for both PGC1α-related coactivator and PGC1β was abundant, with the latter increasing by 50% over 3 days of differentiation. We also conducted promoter analysis of the gene for citrate synthase (CS), a common mitochondrial marker enzyme. The proximal promoter (∼2,100 bp) of the human CS lacks binding sites for PPAR, NRF-1, or NRF-2. Deletion mutants, a targeted mutation, and an Sp1 site-containing reporter construct suggest that changes in Sp1 regulation also participate in mitochondrial biogenesis during myogenesis. Because most mitochondrial genes are regulated by PPARs, NRF-1, and/or NRF-2, we conducted inhibitor studies to further support the existence of a distinct pathway for CS gene regulation in myogenesis. Although both LY-294002 (a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor) and SB-203580 (a p38-MAPK inhibitor) blocked myogenesis (as indicated by creatine phosphokinase activity), only SB-203580 prevented the myogenic increase in cytochrome oxidase activity, whereas only LY-294002 blocked the increase in CS (enzyme and reporter gene activities). Collectively, these studies help delineate the roles of some transcriptional regulators involved in mitochondrial biogenesis associated with myogenesis and underscore an import role for posttranscriptional regulation of transcription factor activity.

Regulation of myocardial glucose transporters GLUT1 and GLUT4 in chronically anemic fetal lambs

Little is known about the chronic adaptations that take place in the fetal heart to allow for increased substrate delivery in response to chronic stress. Because glucose is an important fuel for the fetal cardiomyocytes, we hypothesized that myocardial glucose transporters 1 and 4 (GLUT1 and GLUT4, respectively) are up-regulated in the fetal sheep heart that is chronically stressed by anemia. Fetal sheep at 128 d gestation underwent daily isovolumic hemorrhage and determination of myocardial blood flow, oxygen consumption, and substrate utilization. At the end of 3 or 7 d of anemia, myocardial levels of GLUT1 and GLUT4 mRNA and protein were measured and subcellular localization was determined. Despite stable heart rate and blood pressure, anemia caused a nearly 4-fold increase in right and left ventricular (RV and LV) free wall blood flow. No significant change in myocardial glucose uptake was found and serum insulin levels remained stable. Both 3-d RV and LV and 7-d RV mRNA and protein levels of GLUT1 and GLUT4 were unchanged; 7-d LV GLUT1 and GLUT4 mRNA levels were also stable. However, LV GLUT1 protein levels declined significantly, whereas LV GLUT4 protein levels were increased. In the steady state, GLUT4 protein localized to the sarcolemma membrane. These findings suggest that the glucose transporters are post-transcriptionally regulated in myocardium of chronically anemic fetal sheep with changes that mimic normal postnatal development. Unlike the postnatal heart, localization of GLUT4 to the cell membrane suggests the importance of GLUT4 in basal glucose uptake in the stressed fetal heart.

Regulation of inhibitor of differentiation gene 3 (Id3) expression by Sp2-motif binding factor in myogenic C2C12 cells: Downregulation of DNA binding activity following skeletal muscle differentiation

Id3 is a member of the Id family of transcriptional regulators that have been implicated in the development of multiple tissues. Altered expression of the Id genes and proteins contribute to carcinogenesis and atherosclerosis. Id3 is highly expressed in proliferating skeletal muscle cells but becomes downregulated upon terminal differentiation. We have identified several DNase I protected footprints within a proximal region of the mouse Id3 promoter that has been shown previously to support high levels of transcriptional activity in proliferating skeletal muscle cells. Two of these sites interacted, respectively, in vitro with Sp2 and Egr-1 proteins present in muscle cell nuclear extracts. Mutation analysis revealed that the Sp2 site accounted for a major part of the Id3 promoter activity in proliferating muscle cells whereas the Egr-1 site was dispensable. Consistent with the previously observed downregulation of the endogenous Id3 gene, protein binding to the Sp2 site was substantially reduced with extracts from differentiated muscle cells. Our results reveal Id3 as a potential target for Sp2 and raise the possibility that acute activation and the chronic and maintained expression of Id3 gene might be regulated by different mechanisms.

Control of Glut1 promoter activity under basal conditions and in response to hyperosmolarity: role of Sp1

We previously identified (Hwang DY and Ismail-Beigi F. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 281: C1365-C1372, 2001) a 44-bp GC-rich segment of the rat proximal glucose transporter (Glut)1 promoter, located at -104 to -61, as necessary for basal transcription of the Glut1 gene. Using deletion and mutational analysis and expression of transfected reporter constructs, we report in the present study that mutation of the Sp1 site located within this segment of the promoter leads to a marked ( approximately 4-fold) decrease in basal promoter activity. Double mutations located in the Sp1 site and in a second downstream GC-rich region (-71 to -51) did not cause a further decrease in promoter activity. Gel shift and supershift assays verified the importance of the Sp1 site. Exposure of cells to trichostatin A resulted in increased expression of the endogenous Glut1 as well as the transfected wild-type construct. Finally, the presence of the Sp1 site was found to be essential for the positive response of the promoter to hyperosmolarity. We conclude that the consensus Sp1 site located in the rat proximal Glut1 promoter is necessary and sufficient for basal expression of the Glut1 gene, as well as for its response to hyperosmolarity.

The membrane-anchored MMP-regulator RECK is a target of myogenic regulatory factors

The membrane-anchored MMP-regulator RECK is down regulated in many solid tumors; the extent of RECK down regulation correlates with poor prognosis. Forced expression of RECK in tumor cells results in suppression of angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Studies on the roles and the mechanisms of regulation of the RECK gene during normal development may therefore yield important insights into how the malignant behaviors of tumor cells arise and how they can be controlled. Our previous studies indicate that mice lacking RECK die around E10.5 with reduced tissue integrity. In the present study, we have found that in later stage wild-type embryos, RECK is abundantly expressed in skeletal muscles, especially in the areas where the myoblast differentiation factor MRF4 is expressed. Consistent with this finding, the RECK-promoter is activated by MRF4 in cultured cells. In contrast, a myoblast determination factor MyoD suppresses the RECK-promoter. Myoblastic cells lacking RECK expression give rise to myotubes at higher efficiency than the cells expressing RECK, indicating that RECK suppresses myotube formation. These findings suggest that MyoD down regulates RECK to facilitate myotube formation, whereas MRF4 up regulates RECK to promote other aspects of myogenesis that require extracellular matrix integrity.

Mechanisms regulating GLUT4 glucose transporter expression and glucose transport in skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle is a major glucose-utilizing tissue in the absorptive state and the major glucose transporter expressed in muscle in adulthood is GLUT4. GLUT4 expression is exquisitely regulated in muscle and this seems important in the regulation of insulin-stimulated glucose uptake by this tissues. Thus, muscle GLUT4 overexpression in transgenic animals ameliorates insulin resistance associated with obesity or diabetes. Recent information indicates that glut4 gene transcription is regulated by a number of factors in skeletal muscle that include MEF2, MyoD myogenic proteins, thyroid hormone receptors, Kruppel-like factor KLF15, NF1, Olf-1/Early B cell factor and GEF/HDBP1. In addition, studies in vivo indicate that under normal conditions the activity of the muscle-specific GLUT4 enhancer is low in adult skeletal muscle compared with the maximal potential activity that it can attain at high levels of the MRF transcription factors, MEF2, and TRalpha1. This finding indicates that glut4 transcription may be greatly up-regulated via activation of this enhancer through an increase in the levels of expression or activity of these transcription factors. Understanding the molecular basis of the expression of glut4 will be useful for the appropriate therapeutic design of treatments for insulin-resistant states. The nature of the intracellular signals that mediate the stimulation of glucose transport in response to insulin or exercise is also reviewed.

The Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 2A gene product, Mfn2, up-regulates fuel oxidation through expression of OXPHOS system

Mitofusin-2 (Mfn2) is a mitochondrial membrane protein that participates in mitochondrial fusion in mammalian cells and mutations in the Mfn2 gene cause Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy type 2A. Here, we show that Mfn2 loss-of-function inhibits pyruvate, glucose and fatty acid oxidation and reduces mitochondrial membrane potential, whereas Mfn2 gain-of-function increases glucose oxidation and mitochondrial membrane potential. As to the mechanisms involved, we have found that Mfn2 loss-of-function represses nuclear-encoded subunits of OXPHOS complexes I, II, III and V, whereas Mfn2 overexpression induced the subunits of complexes I, IV and V. Obesity-induced Mfn2 deficiency in rat skeletal muscle was also associated with a decrease in the subunits of complexes I, II, III and V. In addition, the effect of Mfn2 overexpression on mitochondrial metabolism was mimicked by a truncated Mfn2 mutant that is inactive as a mitochondrial fusion protein. Our results indicate that Mfn2 triggers mitochondrial energization, at least in part, by regulating OXPHOS expression through signals that are independent of its role as a mitochondrial fusion protein.

Dystrophin Dp71 Expression Is Down-regulated during Myogenesis

Dp71 expression is present in myoblasts but declines during myogenesis to avoid interfering with the function of dystrophin, the predominant Duchenne muscular dystrophy gene product in differentiated muscle fibers. To elucidate the transcriptional regulatory mechanisms operating on the developmentally regulated expression of Dp71, we analyzed the Dp71 expression and promoter activity during myogenesis of the C2C12 cells. We demonstrated that the cellular content of Dp71 transcript and protein decrease in myotubes as a consequence of the negative regulation that the differentiation stimulus exerts on the Dp71 promoter. Promoter deletion analysis showed that the 224-bp 5'-flanking region, which contains several Sp-binding sites (Sp-A to Sp-D), is responsible for the Dp71 promoter basal activity in myoblasts as well as for down-regulation of the promoter in differentiated cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors specifically bind to the Sp-binding sites in the minimal Dp71 promoter region. Site-directed mutagenesis assay revealed that Sp-A is the most important binding site for the proximal Dp71 promoter activity. Additionally, cotransfection of the promoter construct with Sp1- and Sp3-expressing vectors into Drosophila SL2 cells, which lack endogenous Sp family, confirmed that these proteins activate specifically the minimal Dp71 promoter. Endogenous Sp1 and Sp3 proteins were detected only in myoblasts and not in myotubes, which indicates that the lack of these factors causes down-regulation of the Dp71 promoter activity in differentiated cells. In corroboration, efficient promoter activity was restored in differentiated muscle cells by exogenous expression of Sp1 and Sp3.

Sp1-targeted inhibition of gene transcription by WP631 in transfected lymphocytes

The binding of Sp1 transcription factor to DNA is considered a potential target for small ligands designed to interfere with gene transcription. We attempted to distinguish the direct inhibition of the Sp1-binding to DNA in vivo (cell culture) from more indirect effects due to the network of pathways that modulate cell cycle progression, which may decrease transcription without direct interference with Sp1-DNA interactions. We tested whether the Sp3 protein, whose putative binding sequence overlaps the Sp1 site, can inhibit Sp1-activated transcription and interfere with drug-DNA interactions. A well-characterized model system consisting of a wtGLUT1 (wild-type glucose transporter 1) gene promoter, or a mutated mut2GLUT1 promoter, linked to a CAT (chloramphenicol acetyltransferase) reporter gene, was used to analyze the effects of overexpressed Sp1 and Sp3 transcription factors in transiently transfected Jurkat T lymphocytes. Bisanthracycline WP631, a potent inhibitor of Sp1-activated transcription in vitro, was assayed for its ability to specifically inhibit transcription in transfected Jurkat T lymphocytes. The mut2GLUT1 promoter was used to further discriminate between the WP631 interference with Sp1-DNA complexes and Sp3-induced inhibition, since the Sp3-binding site is canceled in this promoter and replaced by a high-affinity binding site for WP631.

Regulation of the SM-20 prolyl hydroxylase gene in smooth muscle cells

SM-20 encodes an intracellular prolyl hydroxylase that acts on hypoxia inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha, targeting it for proteasomal degradation. By decreasing HIF-alpha, SM-20 is thought to modulate the expression of hypoxia-regulated genes. SM-20 expression in the arterial wall is restricted to smooth muscle cells, which play a critical role in atherosclerosis and arterial injury. To further elucidate the regulation of SM-20 in smooth muscle, we cloned and analyzed the rat SM-20 promoter. In transient transfections, the SM-20 promoter displayed approximately 6-fold greater activity in smooth muscle cells vs. fibroblasts. Deletion analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated that SM-20 transcription was regulated by two Sp1/Sp3 sites. A shift in binding to the Sp1/Sp3 sites, a decrease in Sp1 and Sp3 protein levels, and the emergence of a lower molecular weight form of Sp1 were seen in serum-deprived or post-confluent SMC, suggesting that SM-20 is regulated during smooth muscle cell differentiation.

The expression of retinoblastoma and Sp1 is increased by low concentrations of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors

We examined the effect of suboptimal concentrations of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, which do not interfere with cell proliferation, on retinoblastoma expression in hamster (Chinese hamster ovary K1) and human (K562 and HeLa) cells. To achieve this, we used the chemical inhibitors roscovitine and olomoucine (which inhibit CDK2 preferentially), UCN-01 (which also inhibits CDK4/6) and p21 (as an intrinsic inhibitor). All chemical inhibitors and overexpression of p21 strongly induced retinoblastoma protein expression. UCN-01-mediated retinoblastoma expression was caused by an increase in both the levels of retinoblastoma mRNA and the stability of the protein. The expression of the transcription factor Sp1, a retinoblastoma-interacting protein, was also enhanced by all the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors tested. However, Sp1 expression was caused by an increase in the levels of Sp1 mRNA without modification in the stability of the protein. By using luciferase experiments, the transcriptional activation of both retinoblastoma and Sp1 promoters by UCN-01 was confirmed. Bisindolylmaleimide I, at concentrations causing a similar or higher inhibition of protein kinase C than UCN-01, provoked a lower activation of retinoblastoma and Sp1 expression. Finally, the effects of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors on dihydrofolate reductase gene expression were evaluated. Treatment with UCN-01 increased cellular dihydrofolate reductase mRNA levels, and dihydrofolate reductase enzymatic activity was enhanced by UCN-01, roscovitine, olomoucine and p21, in transient transfection experiments. These results support a mechanism for the self-regulation of retinoblastoma expression, and point to the need to establish the appropriate dose of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors as antiproliferative agents in anticancer treatments.

Differential regulation of the muscle-specific GLUT4 enhancer in regenerating and adult skeletal muscle

We have reported a novel functional co-operation among MyoD, myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2), and the thyroid hormone receptor in a muscle-specific enhancer of the rat GLUT4 gene in muscle cells. Here, we demonstrate that the muscle-specific enhancer of the GLUT4 gene operates in skeletal muscle and is muscle fiber-dependent and innervation-independent. Under normal conditions, both in soleus and in extensor digitorum longus muscles, the activity of the enhancer required the integrity of the MEF2-binding site. Cancellation of the binding site of thyroid hormone receptor enhanced its activity, suggesting an inhibitory role. Muscle regeneration of the soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles caused a marked induction of GLUT4 and stimulation of the enhancer activity, which was independent of innervation. During muscle regeneration, the enhancer activity was markedly inhibited by cancellation of the binding sites of MEF2, MyoD, or thyroid hormone receptors. Different MEF2 isoforms expressed in skeletal muscle (MEF2A, MEF2C, and MEF2D) and all members of the MyoD family had the capacity to participate in the activity of the GLUT4 enhancer as assessed by transient transfection in cultured cells. Our data indicate that the GLUT4 enhancer operates in muscle fibers and its activity contributes to the differences in GLUT4 gene expression between oxidative and glycolytic muscle fibers and to the GLUT4 up-regulation that occurs during muscle regeneration. The activity of the enhancer is maintained in adult muscle by MEF2, whereas during regeneration the operation of the enhancer depends on MEF2, myogenic transcription factors of the MyoD family, and thyroid hormone receptors.

The type 1 CD10/neutral endopeptidase 24.11 promoter: functional characterization of the 5′-untranslated region

The cell surface zinc metalloproteinase CD10/neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) is expressed on normal and malignant lymphoid progenitors, granulocytes and a variety of epithelial cells. Because CD10/NEP functions as part of a regulatory loop that controls local concentrations of peptide substrates and associated peptide-mediated signal transduction, its role in each tissue is different depending on the availability of substrate. To characterize further how this widely distributed molecule is regulated differentially in each tissue, we analysed the major type 2 CD10/NEP promoter and found three functionally important transcription factor binding sites, one of which was identical to CCAAT-binding transcription factor/nuclear transcription factor Y. In this report, we analyse the type 1 CD10/NEP promoter and found a functionally important transcription factor binding site in the 5'-untranslated region. The results of the competition and supershift experiments demonstrated that the functionally important transcription factor was identical to Sp1. Our results suggest that ubiquitously expressed Sp1 may play an important role in differentiation stage-specific regulation of CD10/NEP expression in lymphoid lineage.

Transcriptional regulation of the human Sp1 gene promoter by the specificity protein (Sp) family members nuclear factor Y (NF-Y) and E2F

We analysed in detail the minimal promoter of transcription factor Sp1, which extends 217 bp from the initiation of transcription. Within this sequence we identified putative binding sites for Sp1, nuclear factor Y (NF-Y), activator protein 2 ('AP-2'), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein ('C/EBP') and E2F transcription factors. In one case, the boxes for Sp1 and NF-Y are overlapping. Gel-shift and supershift assays demonstrated specific binding of Sp1, Sp3 and NF-Y proteins. Transient transfections and luciferase assays revealed activation of the Sp1 minimal promoter upon overexpression of Sp1 itself, NF-Y and E2F. Whereas overexpression of NF-Y or E2F had an additive effect on Sp1 overexpression, the activation of Sp1 transcription due to Sp1 was counteracted by Sp3 overexpression. Mutagenesis analysis of the NFY/Sp1-overlapping box revealed that both factors compete for this box, and that when the NF-Y site of this overlapping box is specifically mutated there is an increase in Sp1 binding, thus increasing transcriptional activity. These results help to explain the complex regulation of the Sp1 gene, which depends on the relative amounts of Sp1, Sp3, E2F and NF-Y proteins in the cell.

Determinants contributing to estrogen-regulated expression of SK3

The rSK3 gene encodes a small conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel that is transcriptionally regulated by estrogen. To examine determinants of rSK3 gene expression, the CAP site was defined and the promoter was identified. A 33 bp sequence adjacent to the promoter was shown to act as an enhancer in L6 cells that express SK3 and estrogen receptor alpha (ER alpha). The 33 bp enhancer was unable to stimulate transcription in Cos7 cells that do not express SK3 or ER alpha. However when cotransfected with ER alpha and stimulated with 17 beta-estradiol (E2) the enhancer was activated. Interestingly, expression of ER alpha in Cos7 cells and E2 treatment was sufficient to induce expression of the endogenous SK3 gene. Only Sp1 and Sp3 specifically bound to the enhancer from Cos7 and L6 nuclear extracts, however, ER alpha increased Sp1s affinity for the enhancer. The data suggest that estrogen regulates SK3 gene expression through interactions between ER alpha and Sp1.

Transactivation of capn2 by myogenic regulatory factors during myogenesis

The calcium-activated cysteine protease m-calpain plays a pivotal role during the earlier stages of myogenesis, particularly during fusion. The enzyme is a heterodimer, encoded by the genes capn2, for the large subunit, and capn4, for the small subunit. To study the regulation of m-calpain, the DNA sequence upstream of capn2 was analyzed for promoter elements, revealing the existence of five consensus-binding sites (E-box) for several myogenic regulatory factors and one binding site for myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF-2). Transient transfections with reporter gene constructs containing the E-box revealed that MyoD presents a high level of transactivation of reporter constructs containing this region, in particular the sequences including the MEF-2/E4-box. In addition, over-expression of various myogenic factors demonstrated that MyoD and myogenin with much less efficiency, can up-regulate capn2, both singly and synergistically, while Myf5 has no effect on synthesis of the protease. Experiments with antisense oligonucleotides directed against each myogenic factor revealed that MyoD plays a specific and pivotal role during capn2 regulation, and cannot be replaced wholly by myogenin and Myf5.

The trans-spliced variants of Sp1 mRNA in rat

trans-Splicing is the biological reaction that generates a mature mRNA from separate strands of pre-mRNAs. Previously, we reported that the trans-splicing between the two Sp1 pre-mRNA strands produced an mRNA with the exon 3-2-3 alignment in human HepG2 cells. Here we describe the rat counterpart as well as a newly identified variant with the exon 3-3 alignment in cultured rat cells. A qualitative evaluation of such alignments in poly(A)(+) RNA-rich preparation showed that both alignments arose from trans-splicing rather than circularization of a single strand. The identification of the trans-spliced products in both rat and human raises the possibility that trans-splicing on Sp1 pre-mRNA is rather common to mammals. It was observed that the level of the trans-spliced variants varies in different rat organs.

Ubiquitin (UbC) expression in muscle cells is increased by glucocorticoids through a mechanism involving Sp1 and MEK1

The muscle protein catabolism present in rats with insulin-dependent diabetes and other catabolic conditions is generally associated with increased glucocorticoid production and mRNAs encoding components of the ubiquitin-proteasome system. The mechanisms that increase ubiquitin (UbC) expression have not been identified. We studied the regulation of UbC expression in L6 muscle cells because dexamethasone stimulates the transcription of this gene and others encoding components of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Results of in vivo genomic DNA footprinting experiments indicate that a protein(s) binds to Sp1 sites approximately 50 bp upstream from the UbC transcription start site; dexamethasone changes the methylation pattern at these sites. Sp1 binds to DNA probes corresponding to the rat or human UbC promoter, and treating cells with dexamethasone increases this binding. Deletion and mutation analyses of the rat and human UbC promoters are consistent with an important role of Sp1 in UbC induction by glucocorticoids. Dexamethasone-induced ubiquitin expression is blocked by mithramycin, an inhibitor of Sp1 binding. UO126, a pharmacologic inhibitor of MEK1, also blocks UbC transcriptional activation by dexamethasone; L6 cells transfected to express constitutively active MEK1 exhibit increased UbC promoter activity. Thus, glucocorticoids increase UbC expression in muscle cells by a novel transcriptional mechanism involving Sp1 and MEK1.

Sp1- and Sp3-mediated transcriptional regulation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 gene in chicken skeletal muscle cells

Expression of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) gene in skeletal muscle is positively regulated in proliferating myoblasts and declines during differentiation. We have characterized the cis-regulatory elements in the proximal region of the FGFR1 promoter which render positive transcriptional activity. Multiple elements between -69 and -14 activate the FGFR1 promoter. Myoblast transfections revealed that potential Sp transcription factor binding sites are required for promoter activity. Electromobility shift assays indicated that myoblast nuclear proteins specifically bind to these cis-elements and that differentiated myotube nuclear extracts do not form these same complexes. In addition, Southwestern blot analysis detected binding of the most proximal Sp motif to a Sp1-like protein present in myoblast nuclear extracts but not in myotubes. In corroboration, Sp1 and Sp3 proteins were detected only in myoblasts and not in differentiated myotubes. Finally, transfection of Drosophila SL2 cells showed that Sp1 is a positive regulator of FGFR1 promoter activity and that Sp3 is a coactivator via the proximal Sp binding sites. These studies demonstrate that the FGFR1 promoter is activated by Sp transcription factors in proliferating myoblasts and demonstrate at least part of the mechanism by which FGFR1 gene expression is down-regulated in differentiated muscle fibers.

A novel functional co-operation between MyoD, MEF2 and TRalpha1 is sufficient for the induction of GLUT4 gene transcription

We report tripartite co-operation between MyoD, myocyte enhancer factor-2 (MEF2) and the thyroid hormone receptor (TRalpha1) that takes place in the context of an 82-bp muscle-specific enhancer in the rat insulin-responsive glucose transporter (GLUT4) gene that is active in both cardiac and skeletal muscle. In the L6E9 skeletal muscle cell line and in 10T1/2 fibroblasts, a powerful synergistic activation of the GLUT4 enhancer relied on the over-expression of MyoD, MEF2 and TRalpha1 and the integrity of their respective binding sites, and occurred when linked to either a heterologous promoter or in the context of the native GLUT4 promoter. In cardiac myocytes, enhancer activity was dependent on the binding sites for MEF2 and TRalpha1. Furthermore, we show that in 10T1/2 fibroblasts, the forced expression of MyoD, MEF2 and TRalpha1 induced the expression of the endogenous, otherwise silent, GLUT4 gene. In all, our results indicate a novel functional co-operation between these three factors which is required for full activation of GLUT4 transcription.

Involvement of nuclear transcription factor Sp1 in regulating glucose transporter-1 gene expression during rat trophoblast differentiation

Glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1) is important in placental glucose transport. However, the mechanism of regulation of placental GLUT1 expression remains to be elucidated. We show here that the level of GLUT1 protein in rat choriocarcinoma cells (Rcho-1) decreased during differentiation. To analyze the regulatory mechanism of rat GLUT1 (rGLUT1) gene expression, we transfected rGLUT1 promoter-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs into Rcho-1 cells. Deletion analysis of the rGLUT1 promoter suggested that the region -76/-53 bp was essential for basal transcriptional activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that transcription factors Sp1 and Sp3 bound two GC boxes in the region -99/-33 bp of the rGLUT1 promoter. Mutation analysis of the Sp1 binding sites revealed that the promoter-proximal site located between -76 and -53 bp was essential for basal rGLUT1 promoter activity. Furthermore, the decreased level of GLUT1 may result from a decreased level of Sp1 during differentiation. These findings suggest that Sp1 is involved in the regulation of rGLUT1 gene expression during rat trophoblast differentiation.

Cell density regulated expression of transcription factor Sp1 in corneal stromal cultures

Sp1, a ubiquitously expressed transcription factor, has been implicated to have a role in cell differentiation and cell proliferation. In keratoconus, a corneal disease characterized by thinning and scarring of the central cornea, Sp1 is found up-regulated. In the present study, we examined the expression of Sp1 in stromal cells cultured from normal human and keratoconus-afflicted corneas and evaluated the influence of varying cell densities. Immunohistochemical staining, Western blotting and electrophoretic mobility shift assays indicated that in both normal human and keratoconus cultures, Sp1 protein levels and binding activities increased with the density of cells. The basal level of Sp1 in keratoconus cultures was higher than that in normals. These results demonstrate a marked density mediated up-regulation of Sp1 in corneal stromal cells, suggesting that the Sp1 expression may be regulated by differentiation states of the cells in the cornea. In addition, cells from keratoconus corneas in vitro appear to carry and retain the Sp1 abnormality as in vivo. The Sp1 defect may be an inborn error in keratoconus.

Cloning and characterization of the 5'-flanking region of the human transcription factor Sp1 gene

The 5'-flanking region of the human Sp1 gene was cloned and characterized. Sequence analysis of this region showed the absence of both CAAT and TATA boxes and an initiator element. The proximal promoter of the Sp1 gene is a GC-rich region that contains multiple GC boxes and Ap2 binding sites. The major transcription start site is located 63 base pairs upstream of the translation start site. Transfection experiments demonstrate that all the elements necessary to achieve significant basal transcription activity are located between positions -443 and -20 relative to the translational start. Sp1 and Sp3 proteins bind to the downstream GC box located in the proximal promoter of Sp1. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the Sp1 protein activates Sp1 transcription activity; thus the Sp1 gene is autoregulated.

Mechanism for the reduction of telomerase expression during muscle cell differentiation

Telomerase, the reverse transcriptase that maintains telomere DNA, is usually undetectable in adult human tissues, but is positive in embryonic tissues and in cancers. However, in rodents, several organs of normal adult animals express substantial amounts of telomerase activity. To elucidate relevant control mechanisms operating on the tissue-specific expression of telomerase in rodents, we examined the transcriptional regulation of telomerase reverse transcriptase (mTERT) gene in muscle cell differentiation. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis showed that the reduction of telomerase activity was caused by the decrease of mTERT mRNA level during myogenesis. Transfections of mTERT promoter showed that the proximal 225-base pair region is the core promoter responsible for basal transcriptional activity and also participates in the reduced transcription after muscle differentiation. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that this region contained the GC-boxes, which bind to Sp1 family proteins, and the E-box, which binds to c-Myc. Furthermore, DNA binding activities of Sp1, Sp3, and c-Myc were down-regulated during myogenesis. These data suggest that Sp1, Sp3, and c-Myc have critical roles of TERT transactivation in mouse, and the lack of these transcription factors cause down-regulation of mTERT gene expression in muscle cells differentiation.

A novel role of neuregulin in skeletal muscle. Neuregulin stimulates glucose uptake, glucose transporter translocation, and transporter expression in muscle cells

Neuregulins regulate the expression of acetylcholine receptor genes and induce development of the neuromuscular junction in muscle. In studying whether neuregulins regulate glucose uptake in muscle, we analyzed the effect of a recombinant neuregulin, (r)heregulin-beta1-(177-244) (HRG), on L6E9 muscle cells, which express the neuregulin receptors ErbB2 and ErbB3. L6E9 responded acutely to HRG by a time- and concentration-dependent stimulation of 2-deoxyglucose uptake. HRG-induced stimulation of glucose transport was additive to the effect of insulin. The acute stimulation of the glucose transport induced by HRG was a consequence of the translocation of GLUT4, GLUT1, and GLUT3 glucose carriers to the cell surface. The effect of HRG on glucose transport was dependent on phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. HRG also stimulated glucose transport in the incubated soleus muscle and was additive to the effect of insulin. Chronic exposure of L6E9 cells to HRG potentiated myogenic differentiation, and under these conditions, glucose transport was also stimulated. The activation of glucose transport after chronic HRG exposure was due to enhanced cell content of GLUT1 and GLUT3 and to increased abundance of these carriers at the plasma membrane. However, under these conditions, GLUT4 expression was markedly down-regulated. Muscle denervation is associated with GLUT1 induction and GLUT4 repression. In this connection, muscle denervation caused a marked increase in the content of ErbB2 and ErbB3 receptors, which occurred in the absence of alterations in neuregulin mRNA levels. This fact suggests that neuregulins regulate glucose transporter expression in denervated muscle. We conclude that neuregulins regulate glucose uptake in L6E9 muscle cells by mechanisms involving the recruitment of glucose transporters to the cell surface and modulation of their expression. Neuregulins may also participate in the adaptations in glucose transport that take place in the muscle fiber after denervation.

The p38 mitogen-activated kinase pathway regulates the human interleukin-10 promoter via the activation of Sp1 transcription factor in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human macrophages

Interleukin-10 (IL-10), a pleiotropic cytokine that inhibits inflammatory and cell-mediated immune responses, is produced by a wide variety of cell types including T and B cells and monocytes/macrophages. Regulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines has been suggested to involve distinct signaling pathways. In this study, we investigated the regulation of the human IL-10 (hIL-10) promoter in the human monocytic cell line THP-1 following activation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Analysis of hIL-10 promoter sequences revealed that DNA sequences located between base pairs -652 and -571 are necessary for IL-10 transcription. A computer analysis of the promoter sequence between base pairs -652 and -571 revealed the existence of consensus sequences for Sp1, PEA1, YY1, and Epstein-Barr virus-specific nuclear antigen-2 (EBNA-2)-like transcription factors. THP-1 cells transfected with a plasmid containing mutant Sp1 abrogated the promoter activity, whereas plasmids containing the sequences for PEA1, YY1, and EBNA-2-like transcription factors did not influence hIL-10 promoter activity. To understand the events upstream of Sp1 activation, we investigated the role of p38 and extracellular signal-regulated kinase mitogen-activated protein kinases by using their specific inhibitors. SB202190 and SB203580, the p38-specific inhibitors, inhibited LPS-induced IL-10 production. In contrast, PD98059, a specific inhibitor of extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinases, failed to modulate IL-10 production. Furthermore, SB203580 inhibited LPS-induced activation of Sp1, as well as the promoter activity in cells transfected with a plasmid containing the Sp1 consensus sequence. These results suggest that p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase regulates LPS-induced activation of Sp1, which in turn regulates transcription of the hIL-10 gene.

Cloning of human acetyl-CoA carboxylase beta promoter and its regulation by muscle regulatory factors

The 280-kDa beta-isoform of acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCbeta) is predominantly expressed in heart and skeletal muscle, whereas the 265-kDa alpha-isoform (ACCalpha) is the major ACC in lipogenic tissues. The ACCbeta promoter showed myoblast-specific promoter activity and was strongly induced by MyoD in NIH3T3 cells. Serial deletions of the promoter revealed that MyoD acts on the E-boxes located at positions -498 to -403 and on the proximal region including the 5'-untranslated region. Destruction of the E-boxes at positions -498 to -403 by site-directed mutagenesis resulted in a significant decrease of MyoD responsiveness. The "TGAAA" at -32 to -28 and the region around the transcription start site play important roles in basal transcription, probably as a TATA box and an Inr element, respectively. Mutations of another E-box at -14 to -9 and a "GCCTGTCA" sequence at +17 to +24 drastically decreased the MyoD responsiveness. The novel cis-element GCCTGTCA was preferentially bound by MyoD homodimer in EMSA and conferred MyoD responsiveness to a luciferase reporter, which was repressed by the overexpression of E12. This finding is unique since activation via E-boxes is mediated by heterodimers of MyoD and E-proteins. We screened a human skeletal muscle cDNA library to isolate clones expressing proteins that bind to the region around the GCCTGTCA (+8 to +27) sequence, and isolated Myf4 and Myf6 cDNAs. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay showed that recombinant Myf4 and Myf6 bind to this novel cis-element. Moreover, transient expression of Myf6 induced significant activation on the ACCbeta promoter or an artificial promoter harboring this novel cis-element. These findings suggest that muscle regulatory factors, such as MyoD, Myf4, and Myf6, contribute to the muscle-specific expression of ACCbeta via E-boxes and the novel cis-element GCCTGTCA.

Gene expression of GLUT isoforms and VHL in oral squamous cell carcinoma

In human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) cell lines, we detected atypical mRNA expression of GLUT2 and/or GLUT4 in addition to enhanced expression of GLUT1 mRNA using RT-PCR. In semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of mRNA expression in OSCC cell lines, we found an inverse relationship between mRNA expression of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) and that of GLUT1, with no apparent influence on the expression of other GLUTs. These findings suggest that the reduction of VHL may play a critical role in glucose uptake of OSCC cell lines, with enhancement of GLUT1 expression.

Heterogeneous Sp1 mRNAs in human HepG2 cells include a product of homotypic trans-splicing

Sp1 is one of the well documented transcription factors, but the whole structure of human Sp1 has not been determined yet. In the present study, we isolated several cDNAs representing two forms of human Sp1 mRNA with different 5'-terminal structures in HepG2 cells. Isolation of a genomic clone established that one of the cDNAs represents the mRNA having consecutive alignment of exons, which allowed deducing the complete amino acid sequence for human Sp1. Another cDNA clone had a surprising structure that possessed an alignment of exons 3-2-3. Both reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and RNase protection assays confirmed accumulation of the two forms of Sp1 mRNA in HepG2 cells. Because Southern blot analysis suggested that exon 3 is of a single copy in the genome, the cDNA clone having the duplicated sequences for exon 3 appeared to reflect the trans-splicing between pre-mRNAs of human Sp1.

Genomic organization and promoter analysis of the murine Id3 gene

Overexpression of the helix-loop-helix motif-containing transcription inhibitor Id3 has been shown to repress muscle-specific gene expression. Consistent with its putative negative regulatory role in the myogenic process, Id3 is highly expressed in proliferating myoblasts but down regulated when myoblasts are induced to differentiate. To investigate how Id3 expression may be transcriptionally regulated, we isolated a mouse Id3 genomic DNA fragment and characterized its organization and promoter activity. Comparison of the Id3 gene from human and mouse demonstrated a conserved exon-intron organization in which the first intron interrupts the C-terminal protein coding region and the second intron interrupts the 3' untranslated region at analogous positions in the two species. Sequence analysis of the 5'-flanking region revealed an unexpected mouse strain-specific genetic polymorphism due to a single base substitution. Deletion analysis revealed that as little as 180 base pairs of the mouse Id3 promoter upstream of the transcription start site is sufficient for a high level of gene expression in proliferating C2C12 myoblasts. In particular, the region between the nucleotide position -180 and -34 appeared to be crucial for maximal reporter gene activity and interacted specifically with C2C12 nuclear proteins. Finally, we showed that, despite the creation of a putative transcription factor-binding site, the genetic polymorphism observed did not affect Id3 promoter activity in proliferating C2C12 cells.

GLUT1 glucose transporter gene transcription is repressed by Sp3. Evidence for a regulatory role of Sp3 during myogenesis

GLUT1 glucose transporters are highly expressed in proliferating and transformed cells as well as in tissues during fetal life. However, the mechanisms that regulate GLUT1 gene expression remain largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate that Sp3 proteins bind to the GLUT1 proximal promoter gene and inhibit transcriptional activity in muscle and non-muscle cells. Two different Sp3 translational products (110 and 74 kDa) derived from differential translational initiation were detected in nuclear extracts from myoblast cells, and both Sp3 protein species inhibited GLUT1 gene transcriptional activity. The inhibitory effect of Sp3 was dominant over the stimulatory effect of Sp1 on transcriptional activity of GLUT1 gene. Furthermore, abolition of Sp3 binding to the proximal promoter of GLUT1 gene completely blocked the response to Sp3. We provide evidence that the expression of Sp3 protein is subject to regulation in muscle cells and that this is likely to control GLUT1. Thus, Sp3 protein was up-regulated in the absence of changes in Sp1 early after the induction of IGF-II-dependent myogenesis. Furthermore, forced over-expression of MyoD caused an enhancement in the cellular Sp3/Sp1 ratio which was concomitant to a reduced GLUT1 expression. Later during myogenesis, Sp3 expression was substantial whereas Sp1 was markedly down-regulated. In summary, we provide direct evidence that the transcription factor Sp3 represses gene expression in non-muscle and muscle cells and this is likely to operate in fetal heart by binding to the GLUT1 gene promoter. This is the first description of a repressor of GLUT1 gene transcription. Furthermore, we propose that variations in the ratio of Sp3 versus Sp1 regulate GLUT1 promoter activity and this is crucial in the down-regulation of GLUT1 associated to myogenesis.

Regulation of glucose transport by hypoxia

Transport of glucose into most mammalian cells and tissues is rate-controlling for its metabolism. Glucose transport is acutely stimulated by hypoxic conditions, and the response is mediated by enhanced function of the facilitative glucose transporters (Glut), Glut1, Glut3, and Glut4. The expression and activity of the Glut-mediated transport is coupled to the energetic status of the cell, such that the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation resulting from exposure to hypoxia leads to a stimulation of glucose transport. The premise that the glucose transport response to hypoxia is secondary to inhibition of mitochondrial function is supported by the finding that exposure of a variety of cells and tissues to agents such as azide or cyanide, in the presence of oxygen, also leads to stimulation of glucose transport. The mechanisms underlying the acute stimulation of transport include translocation of Gluts to the plasma membrane (Glut1 and Glut4) and activation of transporters pre-exiting in the plasma membrane (Glut1). A more prolonged exposure to hypoxia results in enhanced transcription of the Glut1 glucose transporter gene, with little or no effect on transcription of other Glut genes. The transcriptional effect of hypoxia is mediated by dual mechanisms operating in parallel, namely, (1) enhancement of Glut1 gene transcription in response to a reduction in oxygen concentration per se, acting through the hypoxia-signaling pathway, and (2) stimulation of Glut1 transcription secondary to the associated inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation during hypoxia. Among the various hypoxia-responsive genes, Glut1 is the first gene whose rate of transcription has been shown to be dually regulated by hypoxia. In addition, inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation per se, and not the reduction in oxygen tension itself, results in a stabilization of Glut1 mRNA. The increase in cell Glut1 mRNA content, resulting from its enhanced transcription and decreased degradation, leads to increased cell and plasma membrane Glut1 content, which is manifested by a further stimulation of glucose transport during the adaptive response to prolonged exposure to hypoxia.