Involvement of the transcription factor PU.1/Spi-1 in myeloid cell-restricted expression of an interferon-inducible gene encoding the human high-affinity Fc gamma receptor

Alterations in microglial phenotype and hippocampal neuronal function in transgenic mice with astrocyte-targeted production of interleukin-10

Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is a cytokine classically linked with anti-inflammatory and protective functions in the central nervous system (CNS) in different neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory conditions. In order to study the specific role of local CNS produced IL-10, we have created a new transgenic mouse line with astrocyte-targeted production of IL-10 (GFAP-IL10Tg). In the present study, the effects of local CNS IL-10 production on microglia, astrocytes and neuronal connectivity under basal conditions were investigated using immunohistochemistry, molecular biology techniques, electrophysiology and behavioural studies. Our results showed that, in GFAP-IL10Tg animals, microglia displayed an increase in density and a specific activated phenotype characterised by morphological changes in specific areas of the brain including the hippocampus, cortex and cerebellum that correlated with the level of transgene expressed IL-10 mRNA. Distinctively, in the hippocampus, microglial cells adopted an elongated morphology following the same direction as the dendrites of pyramidal neurons. Moreover, this IL-10-induced microglial phenotype showed increased expression of certain molecules including Iba1, CD11b, CD16/32 and F4/80 markers, "de novo" expression of CD150 and no detectable levels of either CD206 or MHCII. To evaluate whether this specific activated microglial phenotype was associated with changes in neuronal activity, the electrophysiological properties of pyramidal neurons of the hippocampus (CA3-CA1) were analysed in vivo. We found a lower excitability of the CA3-CA1 synapses and absence of long-term potentiation (LTP) in GFAP-IL10Tg mice. This study is the first description of a transgenic mouse with astrocyte-targeted production of the cytokine IL-10. The findings indicate that IL-10 induces a specific activated microglial phenotype concomitant with changes in hippocampal LTP responses. This transgenic animal will be a very useful tool to study IL-10 functions in the CNS, not only under basal conditions, but also after different experimental lesions or induced diseases.

PU.1 and partners: regulation of haematopoietic stem cell fate in normal and malignant haematopoiesis

During normal haematopoiesis, cell development and differentiation programs are accomplished by switching ‘on’ and ‘off’ specific set of genes. Specificity of gene expression is primarily achieved by combinatorial control, i.e. through physical and functional interactions among several transcription factors that form sequence-specific multiprotein complexes on regulatory regions (gene promoters and enhancers). Such combinatorial gene switches permit flexibility of regulation and allow numerous developmental decisions to be taken with a limited number of regulators. The haematopoietic-specific Ets family transcription factor PU.1 regulates many lymphoid- and myeloid-specific gene promoters and enhancers by interacting with multiple proteins during haematopoietic development. Such protein–protein interactions regulate DNA binding, subcellular localization, target gene selection and transcriptional activity of PU.1 itself in response to diverse signals including cytokines, growth factors, antigen and cellular stresses. Specific domains of PU.1 interact with many protein motifs such as bHLH, bZipper, zinc fingers and paired domain for regulating its activity. This review focuses on important protein–protein interactions of PU.1 that play a crucial role in regulation of normal as well as malignant haematopoiesis. Precise delineation of PU.1 protein-partner interacting interface may provide an improved insight of the molecular mechanisms underlying haematopoietic stem cell fate regulation. Its interactions with some proteins could be targeted to modulate the aberrant signalling pathways for reversing the malignant phenotype and to control the generation of specific haematopoietic progeny for treatment of haematopoietic disorders.

PU.1 phosphorylation correlates with hydroquinone-induced alterations in myeloid differentiation and cytokine-dependent clonogenic response in human CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells

The transcriptional regulatory factor PU.1 is important for the regulation of a diverse group of hematopoietic and myeloid genes. Posttranslational phosphorylation of PU.1 has been demonstrated in the regulation of a variety of promoters in normal cells. In leukemia cells, differing patterns of PU.1 phosphorylation have been described among acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) subtypes. Therefore, we hypothesized that modulation of PU.1-dependent gene expression might be a molecular mediator of alterations in myeloid cell growth and differentiation that have been demonstrated to be early events in benzene-induced leukemogenesis. We found that freshly isolated human CD34(+) hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPC) exhibit multiple PU.1-DNA binding species that represent PU.1 proteins in varying degrees of phosphorylation states as determined by phosphatase treatment in combination with electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). Maturation of granulocyte and monocyte lineages is also accompanied by distinct changes in PU.1-DNA binding patterns. Experiments reveal that increasing doses of the benzene metabolite, hydroquinone (HQ) induce a time-and dose-dependent alteration in the pattern of PU.1-DNA binding in cultured human CD34(+) cells, corresponding to hyperphosphorylation of the PU.1 protein. HQ-induced alterations in PU.1-DNA binding are concomitant with a sustained immature CD34(+) phenotype and cytokine-dependent enhanced clonogenic activity in cultured human HPC. These results suggest that HQ induces a dysregulation in the external signals modulating PU.1 protein phosphorylation and this dysregulation may be an early event in the generation of benzene-induced AML.

IFN-gamma-induced upregulation of Fcgamma-receptor-I during activation of monocytic cells requires the PKR and NFkappaB pathways

Interferon (IFN)-gamma is a potent activator of macrophages, increasing the cells capacity to perform specific functions during inflammation and immune response. In this report we use IFN-gamma-induced upregulation of the high affinity receptor for IgG (FcgammaRI/CD64) in the human monocytic cell line U-937 as a model for monocytic activation. We show that upregulation of FcgammaRI is dependent on signals mediated by the dsRNA-dependent kinase PKR, and the transcription factor NFkappaB. Silencing of PKR expression by siRNA or inhibition of PKR by 2-aminopurine (2-AP) potently blocks the IFN-gamma-induced transcriptional activation of the FcgammaRI promoter. We find that the serine 727 phosphorylation of Stat1, required for full IFN-gamma-induced FcgammaRI promoter activity, is dependent on PKR. We further show that IFN-gamma induction of FcgammaRI upregulation is dependent on the NFkappaB pathway, as evidenced by inhibition of NFkappaB using a phosphorylation defective IkappaBalpha (S32A/S36A) mutant, or inhibiting the IkappaB-kinase (IKK) by treatment with BMS345541. Our results suggest that IFN-gamma-induced increase of FcgammaRI expression requires the integration of two signalling events: PKR-dependent Stat1 serine 727 phosphorylation, and activation of NFkappaB.

Alternate interferon signaling pathways

More than a half a century ago, interferons (IFN) were identified as antiviral cytokines. Since that discovery, IFN have been in the forefront of basic and clinical cytokine research. The pleiotropic nature of these cytokines continues to engage a large number of investigators to define their actions further. IFN paved the way for discovery of Janus tyrosine kinase (JAK)-signal transducing activators of transcription (STAT) pathways. A number of important tumor suppressive pathways are controlled by IFN. Several infectious pathogens counteract IFN-induced signaling pathways. Recent studies indicate that IFN activate several new protein kinases, including the MAP kinase family, and downstream transcription factors. This review not only details the established IFN signaling paradigms but also provides insights into emerging alternate signaling pathways and mechanisms of pathogen-induced signaling interference.

A functional ISRE is required for myeloid transcription of the p47phox gene

Expression of p47(phox), a component of the phagocytic NADPH oxidase, is both tissue-specific and developmentally regulated. We have investigated transcription from the p47(phox) gene promoter by reporter gene analysis of myeloid PLB985 cells stably transfected with a series of p47(phox) promoter constructs. Stable transfection with constructs containing up to 3100 bp of proximal promoter sequence demonstrated that as little as 144 bp of proximal promoter sequence was able to direct significant reporter gene activity in myeloid cells, but not in HeLa cells. Mutation of a previously uncharacterised interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) consensus located at positions -104 to-116, or of an established binding site for the Ets family transcription factor, PU.1 (located at positions -39 to -44), abolished transcription in stably transfected myeloid cells. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA) with myeloid cell nuclear extracts demonstrated that an oligonucleotide containing the p47(phox) ISRE consensus was able to compete binding at another bona fide ISRE. Complexes formed on the p47(phox) ISRE itself were competed by other ISRE consensus sequences. We conclude that transcription of p47(phox) in myeloid cells requires a functional ISRE in addition to the previously identified PU.1 binding site.

Identification and characterization of a PU.1/Spi-B binding site in the bovine leukemia virus long terminal repeat

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is a B-lymphotropic oncogenic retrovirus whose transcriptional promoter is located in the viral 5' long terminal repeat (LTR). To date, no B-lymphocyte-specific cis-regulatory element has been identified in this region. Since ETS proteins are known to regulate transcription of numerous retroviruses, we searched for the presence in the BLV promoter region of binding sites for PU.1/Spi-1, a B-cell- and macrophage-specific ETS family member. In this report, nucleotide sequence analysis of the viral LTR identified a PUbox located at -95/-84 bp. We demonstrated by gel shift and supershift assays that PU.1 and the related Ets transcription factor Spi-B interacted specifically with this PUbox. A 2-bp mutation (GGAA-->CCAA) within this motif abrogated PU.1/Spi-B binding. This mutation caused a marked decrease in LTR-driven basal gene expression in transient transfection assays of B-lymphoid cell lines, but did not impair the responsiveness of the BLV promoter to the virus-encoded transactivator Tax(BLV). Moreover, ectopically expressed PU.1 and Spi-B proteins transactivated the BLV promoter in a PUbox-dependent manner. Taken together, our results provide the first demonstration of regulation of the BLV promoter by two B-cell-specific Ets transcription factors, PU.1 and Spi-B. The PU.1/Spi-B binding site identified here could play an important role in BLV replication and B-lymphoid tropism.

Novel combinatorial interactions of GATA-1, PU.1, and C/EBPepsilon isoforms regulate transcription of the gene encoding eosinophil granule major basic protein

GATA-1 and the ets factor PU.1 have been reported to functionally antagonize one another in the regulation of erythroid versus myeloid gene transcription and development. The CCAAT enhancer binding protein epsilon (C/EBPepsilon) is expressed as multiple isoforms and has been shown to be essential to myeloid (granulocyte) terminal differentiation. We have defined a novel synergistic, as opposed to antagonistic, combinatorial interaction between GATA-1 and PU.1, and a unique repressor role for certain C/EBPepsilon isoforms in the transcriptional regulation of a model eosinophil granulocyte gene, the major basic protein (MBP). The eosinophil-specific P2 promoter of the MBP gene contains GATA-1, C/EBP, and PU.1 consensus sites that bind these factors in nuclear extracts of the eosinophil myelocyte cell line, AML14.3D10. The promoter is transactivated by GATA-1 alone but is synergistically transactivated by low levels of PU.1 in the context of optimal levels of GATA-1. The C/EBPepsilon(27) isoform strongly represses GATA-1 activity and completely blocks GATA-1/PU.1 synergy. In vitro mutational analyses of the MBP-P2 promoter showed that both the GATA-1/PU.1 synergy, and repressor activity of C/EBPepsilon(27) are mediated via protein-protein interactions through the C/EBP and/or GATA-binding sites but not the PU.1 sites. Co-immunoprecipitations using lysates of AML14.3D10 eosinophils show that both C/EBPepsilon(32/30) and epsilon(27) physically interact in vivo with PU.1 and GATA-1, demonstrating functional interactions among these factors in eosinophil progenitors. Our findings identify novel combinatorial protein-protein interactions for GATA-1, PU.1, and C/EBPepsilon isoforms in eosinophil gene transcription that include GATA-1/PU.1 synergy and repressor activity for C/EBPepsilon(27).

Synergistic interaction of MEF2D and Sp1 in activation of the CD14 promoter

The expression of CD14, a monocyte receptor for the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), is upregulated during monocytic cell differentiation. Although a Sp1 site at -110bp of the CD14 promoter was shown to be critical for activation of the promoter during the differentiation, how the Sp1 site is regulated has not been well understood. We have recently reported that expression of MEF2D protein increases during the differentiation of HL60 promyeloid cells to monocyte and that the upregulation of the protein is required for CD14 expression during the differentiation [Mol. Immunol. 36 (1999) 1209]. However, there is no obvious MEF2 binding site in the critical region of the CD14 promoter. In this study, which aimed to determine the regulatory role of MEF2D in monocytic cell differentiation, MEF2D was found to form a complex with Sp1 in U937 promyeloid cells. Transient transfection experiments showed that co-expression of MEF2D and Sp1 synergistically activated the CD14 promoter. The results support a model in which increased MEF2D protein during monocytic cell differentiation activates the CD14 promoter through interaction with Sp1.

Distinct functions for signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 and PU.1 in transcriptional activation of Fc gamma receptor I promoter

The myeloid cell-specific expression and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) induction of Fc gamma receptor I (FcgammaRI) requires cooperation between PU.1 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (Stat1) by means of mechanisms that are unknown. We found that PU.1 and Stat1 mediated distinct functions in the activation of FcgammaRI promoter. The basal activity of the natural FcgammaRI promoter was strictly dependent on PU.1, and IFN-gamma induction required both PU.1 and Stat1. Recruitment of TATA-binding protein (TBP) to the FcgammaRI promoter did not replace PU.1 in promoter activation, suggesting that TBP is not sufficient for FcgammaRI activation and that PU.1 mediates additional contacts with basal transcription machinery. In contrast, Stat1 did not interact with basal transcription machinery, but the Stat1-mediated activation of FcgammaRI promoter critically required CREB-binding protein (CBP)/p300. These results define functional cooperativity between PU.1 and Stat1 in FcgammaRI promoter activation, in which PU.1 appears to serve as a bridging factor with the basal transcription machinery and IFN-gamma-mediated induction of transcription occurs through recruitment of CBP/p300 by Stat1.

Structure of the human carboxypeptidase M gene. Identification of a proximal GC-rich promoter and a unique distal promoter that consists of repetitive elements

The human carboxypeptidase M (CPM) gene was found to encompass about 112.6 kb of genomic sequence, containing 11 exons of which eight (exons 2-9) are common to all transcripts and contain the entire coding region. We have cloned several alternative variants of CPM transcripts that result from differential promoter usage and alternative splicing. Although CPM belongs to the same metallocarboxypeptidase subfamily as CPE, their intron/exon structures differ significantly. Multiple transcription start sites were found in the CPM gene that cluster in two regions separated by about 30 kb and are flanked by two unique functional promoters. One ('proximal') is immediately upstream of the coding region and contains GC-rich sequences and a typical TATA box whereas the other ('distal') consists almost entirely of repetitive elements. Luciferase reporter assays with constructs of the promoter regions showed they were both quite active in several cell lines. However, the proximal promoter was much stronger than the distal one in two of the human cell lines tested (HepG2 and HEK293) whereas both promoters were highly and equally active in the human monocytic cell line THP-1, which has high constitutive expression of CPM.

Transcriptional regulation of hemopoiesis

The regulation of blood cell formation, or hemopoiesis, is central to the replenishment of mature effector cells of innate and acquired immune responses. These cells fulfil specific roles in the host defense against invading pathogens, and in the maintenance of homeostasis. The development of hemopoietic cells is under stringent control from extracellular and intracellular stimuli that result in the activation of specific downstream signaling cascades. Ultimately, all signal transduction pathways converge at the level of gene expression where positive and negative modulators of transcription interact to delineate the pattern of gene expression and the overall cellular hemopoietic response. Transcription factors, therefore, represent a nodal point of hemopoietic control through the integration of the various signaling pathways and subsequent modulation of the transcriptional machinery. Transcription factors can act both positively and negatively to regulate the expression of a wide range of hemopoiesis-relevant genes including growth factors and their receptors, other transcription factors, as well as various molecules important for the function of developing cells. The expression of these genes is dependent on the complex interactions between transcription factors, co-regulatory molecules, and specific binding sequences on the DNA. Recent advances in various vertebrate and invertebrate systems emphasize the importance of transcription factors for hemopoiesis control and the evolutionary conservation of several of such mechanisms. In this review we outline some of the key issues frequently identified in studies of the transcriptional regulation of hemopoietic gene expression. In teleosts, we expect that the characterization of several of these transcription factors and their regulatory mechanisms will complement recent advances in a number of fish systems where identification of cytokine and other hemopoiesis-relevant factors are currently under investigation.

Characterization of the human Fc gamma RIIB gene promoter: human zinc-finger proteins (ZNF140 and ZNF91) that bind to different regions function as transcription repressors

Expression of the human low-affinity Fc receptors for IgG (human Fc gamma RII) is differentially regulated. We report here the characterization of the promoter structure of the human Fc gamma RIIB gene and the isolation of the promoter region-binding proteins by a yeast one-hybrid assay. The minimal 154-bp region upstream from the transcription start site of the human Fc gamma RIIB gene was shown to possess promoter activity in a variety of cells. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay indicated that multiple nuclear factors in cell extracts bind to the two regions [F2-3 (-110 to -93) and F4-3 (-47 to -31)] of the human Fc gamma RIIB gene promoter. Mutation analysis indicated that GGGAGGAGC (-105 to -97) and AATTTGTTTGCC (-47 to -36) sequences are responsible for binding to nuclear factors respectively. By using GGGAGGAGC and AATTTGTTTGCC as bait sequences, we cloned two zinc-finger proteins (ZNF140 and ZNF91) that bind to the F2-3 and F4-3 regions within the promoter of the human Fc gamma RIIB gene respectively. When the ZNF140 and ZNF91 were transfected with reporter plasmid, both showed repressor activity with additive effects. Thus, these results indicate that these cloned ZNF140 and ZNF91 proteins function as repressors for the human Fc gamma RIIB transcription.

Ets target genes: past, present and future

Ets is a family of transcription factors present in species ranging from sponges to human. All family members contain an approximately 85 amino acid DNA binding domain, designated the Ets domain. Ets proteins bind to specific purine-rich DNA sequences with a core motif of GGAA/T, and transcriptionally regulate a number of viral and cellular genes. Thus, Ets proteins are an important family of transcription factors that control the expression of genes that are critical for several biological processes, including cellular proliferation, differentiation, development, transformation, and apoptosis. Here, we tabulate genes that are regulated by Ets factors and describe past, present and future strategies for the identification and validation of Ets target genes. Through definition of authentic target genes, we will begin to understand the mechanisms by which Ets factors control normal and abnormal cellular processes.

Cooperation among Stat1, glucocorticoid receptor, and PU.1 in transcriptional activation of the high-affinity Fc gamma receptor I in monocytes

IFN-gamma and glucocorticoids regulate inflammatory and immune responses through Stat1 and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) transcription factors, respectively. The biological responses to these polypeptides are determined by integration of various signaling pathways in a cell-type and promoter-dependent manner. In this study we have characterized the molecular basis for the functional cooperation between IFN-gamma and dexamethasone (Dex) in the induction of the high-affinity Fc gamma receptor I (Fc gamma RI) in monocytes. Dex did not affect IFN-gamma-induced Stat1 DNA binding activity or induce novel DNA-binding complexes to the Fc gamma RI promoter. By using cell systems lacking functional GR or Stat1, we showed that GR stimulated Stat1-dependent transcription in a ligand-dependent manner, while Stat1 did not influence GR-dependent transcription. The cooperation required phosphorylation of Tyr701, DNA binding, and the trans-activation domain of Stat1, but did not involve Ser727 phosphorylation of Stat1 or physical interaction between GR and Stat1. The costimulatory effect of Dex was not dependent on a consensus glucocorticoid response element in the Stat1-responsive promoters, but required the DNA-binding and trans-activation functions of GR, and Dex-induced protein synthesis. GR activated the natural Fc gamma RI promoter construct, and this response required both Stat1 and the Ets family transcription factor PU.1. Previously, physical association between GR and Stat5 has been shown to enhance Stat5-dependent and suppress GR-dependent transcription. The results shown here demonstrate a distinct, indirect mechanism of cross-modulation between cytokine and steroid receptor signaling that integrates Stat1 and GR pathways with cell type-specific PU.1 transcription factor in the regulation of Fc gamma RI gene transcription.

PU.1 expression in microglia

The transcription factor PU.1 has a pivotal role in both the generation and function of macrophages. To determine whether PU.1 is also involved in microglial regulation, we investigated its expression following hypoxic-ischemia (HI) brain injury and in the BV-2 microglial cell line. We found that microglia constitutively expressed high levels of PU.1 protein in both their 'resting' and 'activated' states.

Genetic, biochemical, and clinical features of chronic granulomatous disease

The reduced nicotinamide dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase complex allows phagocytes to rapidly convert O2 to superoxide anion which then generates other antimicrobial reactive oxygen intermediates, such as H2O2, hydroxyl anion, and peroxynitrite anion. Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) results from a defect in any of the 4 subunits of the NADPH oxidase and is characterized by recurrent life-threatening bacterial and fungal infections and abnormal tissue granuloma formation. Activation of the NADPH oxidase requires translocation of the cytosolic subunits p47phox (phagocyte oxidase), p67phox, and the low molecular weight GT-Pase Rac, to the membrane-bound flavocytochrome, a heterodimer composed of the heavy chain gp91phox and the light chain p22phox. This complex transfers electrons from NADPH on the cytoplasmic side to O2 on the vacuolar or extracellular side, thereby generating superoxide anion. Activation of the NADPH oxidase requires complex rearrangements between the protein subunits, which are in part mediated by noncovalent binding between src-homology 3 domains (SH3 domains) and proline-rich motifs. Outpatient management of CGD patients relies on the use of prophylactic antibiotics and interferon-gamma. When infection is suspected, aggressive effort to obtain culture material is required. Treatment of infections involves prolonged use of systemic antibiotics, surgical debridement when feasible, and, in severe infections, use of granulocyte transfusions. Mouse knockout models of CGD have been created in which to examine aspects of pathophysiology and therapy. Gene therapy and bone marrow transplantation trials in CGD patients are ongoing and show great promise.

IL-2 and long-term T cell activation induce physical and functional interaction between STAT5 and ETS transcription factors in human T cells

Activation of Stat5 by many cytokines implies that it cannot alone insure the specificity of the regulation of its target genes. We have evidenced a physical and functional interaction between members of two unrelated transcription factor families, Ets-1, Ets-2 and Stat5, which could contribute to the proliferative response to interleukin 2. Competition with GAS- and EBS-specific oligonucleotides and immunoassays with a set of anti-Stat and anti-Ets families revealed that the IL-2-induced Stat5-Ets complex recognizes several GAS motifs identified as target sites for activated Stat5 dimers. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments evidenced that a Stat5/Ets-1/2 complex is formed in vivo in absence of DNA. GST-pull down experiments demonstrated that the C-terminal domain of Ets-1 is sufficient for this interaction in vitro. Cotransfection experiments in Kit225 T cells resulted in cooperative transcriptional activity between both transcription factors in response to a combination of IL-2, PMA and ionomycin. A Stat5-Ets protein complex was the major inducible DNA-binding complex bound to the human IL-2rE GASd/EBSd motif in long-term proliferating normal human T cells activated by CD2 and CD28. These results suggest that the inducible Stat5-Ets protein interaction plays a role in the regulation of gene expression in response to IL-2 in human T lymphocytes.

PU.1 and interferon consensus sequence-binding protein regulate the myeloid expression of the human Toll-like receptor 4 gene

The protein product of the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 gene has been implicated in the signal transduction events induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In mice, destructive mutations of Tlr4 impede the normal response to LPS and cause a high susceptibility to Gram-negative infection. Expression of TLR4 mRNA in humans is restricted to a small number of cell types, including LPS-responsive myeloid cells, B-cells, and endothelial cells. To investigate the molecular basis for TLR4 expression in cells of myeloid origin, we cloned the human TLR4 gene and analyzed its putative 5'-proximal promoter. In transient transfections a region of only 75 base pairs upstream of the major transcription initiation site was sufficient to induce maximal luciferase activity in THP-1 cells. The sequence of this region is similar in human and mouse TLR4 genes and lacks a TATA box, typical Sp1-sites or CCAAT box sequences. Instead, it contains consensus-binding sites for Ets family transcription factors, octamer-binding factors, and a composite interferon response factor/Ets motif. The activity of the promoter in macrophages was strictly dependent on the integrity of both half sites of the composite interferon response factor/Ets motif, which was constitutively bound by the myeloid and B-cell-specific transcription factor PU.1 and interferon consensus sequence-binding protein. These results indicate that the two tissue-restricted transcription factors PU.1 and interferon consensus sequence-binding protein participate in the basal regulation of human TLR4 in myeloid cells. Cloning of the human TLR4 gene provides a basis for further investigation of the possible impact of genetic variations on the susceptibility to infection and sepsis.

Requirement of MEF2D in the induced differentiation of HL60 promyeloid cells

The regulatory role of MEF2 (myocyte enhancer binding factor 2) proteins in nonmuscle tissues has not been well characterized. We examined the expression of MEF2 family members, namely, MEF2A, -B, -C, and -D, in the differentiation of HL60 promyeloid cells and observed the remarkable increase in the expressions of MEF2A and MEF2D proteins during the differentiation process into monocytes. To examine the role of MEF2, we expressed a dominant-negative form of MEF2D, without its transactivation domain, in HL60 cells. When the HL60 cell line expressing the mutant MEF2D was induced to differentiate by VitD(3) treatment, cell surface expression of CD14 and the ability to reduce NBT, which are important characteristics of differentiated monocytes, were significantly decreased compared with control HL60 cells. These results show that MEF2D is required in the differentiation process along the monocyte/macrophage lineage,

Critical flanking sequences of PU.1 binding sites in myeloid-specific promoters

The myeloid-specific transcription factor PU.1 is essential for expression of p47(phox), a component of the superoxide-forming phagocyte NADPH oxidase. The consensus PU.1 binding sequence (GAGGAA) is located on the non-coding strand from position -40 to -45 relative to the transcriptional start site of the p47phox promoter. A promoter construct extending to -46 was sufficient to drive tissue-specific expression of the luciferase reporter gene, but extension of the promoter from -46 to -48 resulted in a significant increase in reporter expression. Mutations of the nucleotides G at -46 and/or T at -47 reduced both reporter expression and PU.1 binding, whereas mutations at -48 had no effect. The PU.1 binding avidity of these sequences correlated closely with their capacity to dictate reporter gene transcription. In parallel studies on the functional PU.1 site in the promoter of CD18, mutations of nucleotides G and T at positions -76 and -77 (corresponding to -46 and -47, respectively, of the p47phox promoter) reduced PU.1 binding and nearly abolished the contribution of this element to promoter activity. We conclude that the immediate flanking nucleotides of the PU.1 consensus motif have significant effects on PU.1 binding avidity and activity and that this region is the dominant cis element regulating p47phox expression.

Prf, a novel Ets family protein that binds to the PU.1 binding motif, is specifically expressed in restricted stages of B cell development

During the development of lymphocytes, expression of the Ig genes is strictly regulated in a tissue-specific manner and in a time-ordered fashion. We have previously shown that the PU.1 binding motif in the Igkappa 3' enhancer (kappaE3') and a novel Ets family protein other than PU.1 may be possibly involved in the control of V(kappa)-J(kappa) joining. In the attempt to isolate the novel Ets family protein, we have screened cDNA libraries with the yeast one-hybrid method and identified a new PU.1-related factor, Prf. This novel Ets family protein is shown to interact with the PU.1 binding sequences in various promoters and enhancers, including kappaE3'. It was found that expression of the prf gene is predominant in the B-lineage cells, with the exception of immature B cells. Since Prf does not exhibit functions of transcriptional activity, this novel protein may act as an antagonist against other Ets family proteins, e.g. PU.1 and Spi-B. Possible roles of Prf with respect to the B cell differentiation are discussed.

Protein kinase C activation increases binding of transcription factor PU.1 in murine tissue macrophages

PU.1 is a transcription factor found in macrophages, B cells, neutrophils, and hemopoietic stem cells. In macrophages PU.1 regulates a number of genes, including c-fms, CD11b, CD18, and FcgammaR1b. Previously, in primary macrophages PU.1 binding to the sequence GAGGAA was found to be induced by treatment with bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). Here we investigated the role of protein kinase C (pKC) in the induction of PU.1 binding in macrophages. We report that pharmacological activation of pKC increases PU.1 binding, while inactivation of pKC inhibits the increases in PU.1 binding by agents which activate pKC in macrophages (LPS and tumor necrosis factor-alpha), but not by an agent which does not activate pKC (IFN-gamma). pKC activation may therefore be one pathway by which PU.1 binding may be increased in primary macrophages.

How cells respond to interferons

Interferons play key roles in mediating antiviral and antigrowth responses and in modulating immune response. The main signaling pathways are rapid and direct. They involve tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of signal transducers and activators of transcription factors by Janus tyrosine kinases at the cell membrane, followed by release of signal transducers and activators of transcription and their migration to the nucleus, where they induce the expression of the many gene products that determine the responses. Ancillary pathways are also activated by the interferons, but their effects on cell physiology are less clear. The Janus kinases and signal transducers and activators of transcription, and many of the interferon-induced proteins, play important alternative roles in cells, raising interesting questions as to how the responses to the interferons intersect with more general aspects of cellular physiology and how the specificity of cytokine responses is maintained.

Neutrophils Deficient in PU.1 Do Not Terminally Differentiate or Become Functionally Competent

PU.1 is an ets family transcription factor that is expressed specifically in hematopoietic lineages. Through gene disruption studies in mice we have previously shown that the expression of PU.1 is not essential for early myeloid lineage or neutrophil commitment, but is essential for monocyte/macrophage development. We have also shown that PU.1-null (deficient) neutrophils have neutrophil morphology and express neutrophil-specific markers such as Gr-1 and chloroacetate esterase both in vivo and in vitro. We now demonstrate that although PU.1-null mice develop neutrophils, these cells fail to terminally differentiate as shown by the absence of messages for neutrophil secondary granule components and the absence or deficiency of cellular responses to stimuli that normally invoke neutrophil function. Specifically, PU.1-deficient neutrophils fail to respond to selected chemokines, do not generate superoxide ions, and are ineffective at bacterial uptake and killing. The failure to produce superoxide could, in part, be explained by the absence of the gp91 subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, as shown by our inability to detect messages for the gp91phoxgene. Incomplete maturation of PU.1-deficient neutrophils is cell autonomous and persists in cultured PU.1-deficient cells. Our results indicate that PU.1 is not necessary for neutrophil lineage commitment but is essential for normal development, maturation, and function of neutrophils.

© 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.

Neutrophils Deficient in PU.1 Do Not Terminally Differentiate or Become Functionally Competent

PU.1 is an ets family transcription factor that is expressed specifically in hematopoietic lineages. Through gene disruption studies in mice we have previously shown that the expression of PU.1 is not essential for early myeloid lineage or neutrophil commitment, but is essential for monocyte/macrophage development. We have also shown that PU.1-null (deficient) neutrophils have neutrophil morphology and express neutrophil-specific markers such as Gr-1 and chloroacetate esterase both in vivo and in vitro. We now demonstrate that although PU.1-null mice develop neutrophils, these cells fail to terminally differentiate as shown by the absence of messages for neutrophil secondary granule components and the absence or deficiency of cellular responses to stimuli that normally invoke neutrophil function. Specifically, PU.1-deficient neutrophils fail to respond to selected chemokines, do not generate superoxide ions, and are ineffective at bacterial uptake and killing. The failure to produce superoxide could, in part, be explained by the absence of the gp91 subunit of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase, as shown by our inability to detect messages for the gp91phoxgene. Incomplete maturation of PU.1-deficient neutrophils is cell autonomous and persists in cultured PU.1-deficient cells. Our results indicate that PU.1 is not necessary for neutrophil lineage commitment but is essential for normal development, maturation, and function of neutrophils.

© 1998 by The American Society of Hematology.

Cooperative binding of Stat1-2 heterodimers and ISGF3 to tandem DNA elements

Interferon (IFN)-alpha-activated Stat1 homodimers and Stat1-2 heterodimers bind to GAS elements, whereas the transcription factor ISGF3, which contains Stat1, Stat2 and p48, binds to ISREs. We now find that Stat1-2 dimers can form heterotetramers on tandem GAS sites and that the heterotetramers have a much higher binding affinity for a double GAS site than do heterodimers for a single site, suggesting cooperativity mediated through protein-protein interactions. Stat1-2 heterotetramers can also be detected with a single GAS site, again indicating cooperativity mediated through protein-protein interactions. Deleting 40 amino acid residues from the N-terminus of Stat1 abolished Stat1-Stat2 heterotetramer formation, but did not affect heterodimer formation and an N-terminal peptide containing the first 120 residues of Stat2 inhibited heterotetramer formation but did not affect heterodimer formation. Thus, the N-terminal regions of both Stat1 and Stat2 are important for cooperative DNA binding, and heterodimers probably interact with each other through these regions. Cooperative binding of ISGF3 was also observed using the tandem ISREs from the IFN-alpha responsive promoter of the 6-16 gene. A more abundant and larger complex was formed with a probe containing two ISREs than with a probe containing a single ISRE. The N-terminal regions of both Stat1 and Stat2 are important for the cooperative binding of ISGF3 to tandem ISREs but not to a single site. The cooperative DNA-binding activities of ISGF3 and Stat1-2 dimers are likely to contribute to the transcriptional activation of those IFN-alpha-responsive genes that have tandem DNA elements.

Human IgG Fc receptors

Human IgG receptors constitute a family of glycoprotein complexes consisting of ligand-binding, and associated signaling chains. Three leukocyte classes (Fc gamma RI, II, and III) and one separate endothelial Fc gamma R class (FcRB) are defined which are expressed on hematopoietic and endothelial cells. Upon interaction with IgG, Fc gamma R initiate a plethora of signaling cascades involving receptor signaling motifs, and protein tyrosine kinases and phosphatases. These cascades ultimately culminate in activation or deactivation of effector cells, resulting in initiation or down-modulation of cellular processes. Recent evidence points to a crucial in vivo role of Fc gamma R in both initiation and regulation of inflammatory and cytotoxic responses. These Fc gamma R-mediated immune responses can be exploited to develop novel immunotherapies.

Interaction between PU.1 and another Ets family transcription factor promotes macrophage-specific Basal transcription initiation

Numerous macrophage-restricted promoters lack TATA boxes or other conventional initiation motifs but contain high affinity binding sites (PU boxes) for the macrophage-restricted Ets family transcription factor PU.1. In RAW264 murine macrophages, multimerized PU boxes were not active as enhancers when placed upstream of a minimal promoter. To model their role in basal promoters, we inserted PU boxes into a promoterless luciferase reporter plasmid. Two sites, regardless of orientation, were necessary and sufficient to direct reporter gene expression in transient transfections of the RAW264 macrophage-like cell line. This activity was absent in transfected 3T3 fibroblasts but could be induced by PU.1 coexpression. Both the model promoter and the macrophage-specific mouse and human c-fms promoters were activated in RAW264 cells by other Ets family transcription factors, Ets-2 and Elf-1. In fibroblasts, the effects of PU.1 and Ets-2 were multiplicative, whereas overexpression of PU.1 in RAW264 cells reduced activation of c-fms or model promoters by the other Ets factors. The PU.1 and Ets-2 binding sites of the mouse c-fms promoter have been located by DNase footprinting. A conserved Ets-like motif at the transcription site, CAGGAAC, that bound only weakly to PU.1, was identified as an additional critical basal c-fms promoter element. Comparison of studies on the model promoter, c-fms and other myeloid promoters provides evidence for a conserved mechanism that involves three separate and functionally distinct Ets-like motifs.

The Role of Transcription Factor PU.I in the Activity of the Intronic Enhancer of the Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin (RNS2) Gene

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) found in the granules of human eosinophils is a cationic ribonuclease toxin. Expression of the EDN gene (RNS2) in eosinophils is dependent on proximal promoter sequences in combination with an enhancer located in the first intron. We further define here the active region of the intron using transfections in differentiated eosinophilic HL60 cells. We show that a region containing a tandem PU.I binding site is important for intronic enhancer activity. This region binds multiple forms of transcription factor PU.I as judged by gel-shift analysis and DNA affinity precipitation. Importantly, introducing point mutations in the PU.I site drastically reduces the intronic enhancer activity, showing the importance of PU.I for expression of EDN in cells of the eosinophilic lineage.

The Role of Transcription Factor PU.I in the Activity of the Intronic Enhancer of the Eosinophil-Derived Neurotoxin (RNS2) Gene

Eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) found in the granules of human eosinophils is a cationic ribonuclease toxin. Expression of the EDN gene (RNS2) in eosinophils is dependent on proximal promoter sequences in combination with an enhancer located in the first intron. We further define here the active region of the intron using transfections in differentiated eosinophilic HL60 cells. We show that a region containing a tandem PU.I binding site is important for intronic enhancer activity. This region binds multiple forms of transcription factor PU.I as judged by gel-shift analysis and DNA affinity precipitation. Importantly, introducing point mutations in the PU.I site drastically reduces the intronic enhancer activity, showing the importance of PU.I for expression of EDN in cells of the eosinophilic lineage.

Sp3 mediates transcriptional activation of the leukocyte integrin genes CD11C and CD11B and cooperates with c-Jun to activate CD11C

The leukocyte integrin genes CD11c and CD11b are expressed predominately in myelomonocytic cells. In previous experiments, the -70 to -65 and -121 to -103 regions of the CD11c promoter and the -66 to -59 region of the CD11b promoter were shown to be essential for Sp1-mediated activation of these genes. In vivo genomic footprinting had also revealed cell-specific binding of protein, presumably Sp1, to these regions. In this study, electrophoretic mobility shift analysis showed that the Sp1-related factor, Sp3, also binds at or near these same regions. Cotransfection of Sp3 along with CD11c promoter-luciferase constructs into Sp-deficient Drosophila Schneider 2 cells showed that Sp3 could activate the CD11c promoter. Deletion of both the -70 to -65 and -121 to -103 regions of the CD11c promoter resulted in the loss of activation by Sp3. Both sites showed activation by Sp3; however, the -70 to -65 region was more responsive to Sp3 than to Sp1. Similar transfection analysis of the -66 to -59 region of the CD11b promoter showed Sp3-dependent expression. Further, cotransfection analysis in Drosophila cells showed that Sp3, as was previously shown for Sp1, also synergizes with c-Jun to activate CD11c. Antisense experiments that knocked out endogenous Sp3 expression in the myelomocytic cell line, HL60, revealed that Sp3 participates in activation of the CD11c and CD11b promoters in vivo.

Granulocytic Differentiation of Normal Hematopoietic Precursor Cells Induced by Transcription Factor PU.1 Correlates With Negative Regulation of the c-myb Promoter

Numerous transcription factors allow hematopoietic cells to respond to lineage- and stage-specific cytokines and/or to act as their effectors. The transcription factors PU.1 and c-Myb are essential for hematopoiesis, most likely acting at distinct stages of differentiation, but sharing a common set of target genes. To determine whether PU.1 and c-Myb are functionally interrelated, murine bone marrow (BM) cells and 32Dcl3 murine myeloid precursor cells were infected with a retrovirus carrying a PU.1 cDNA and assessed for myeloid colony formation and for granulocytic differentiation, respectively. Compared with noninfected normal BM cells or to cells infected with an empty virus, hematopoietic precursor cells expressing PU.1 formed an increased number of interleukin-3 (IL-3) and granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF )–stimulated colonies. Moreover, granulocytic differentiation of 32Dcl3 cells constitutively expressing PU.1 was accelerated, as indicated by morphology and by expression of differentiation markers. Downregulation of c-Myb protein levels by expression of an antisense c-myb construct was also associated with a faster kinetics of 32Dcl3 granulocytic differentiation. Sequence analysis of the 5′ flanking region of the c-myb gene revealed a consensus PU box at position +16 to +21 able to specifically interact in electrophoretic mobility shift assays with either bacterially synthesized PU.1 protein or whole cell extracts from differentiated 32Dcl3 cells. Transient expression of PU.1 in cotransfection assays in different cell lines resulted in inhibition of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase activity driven by different segments of the c-myb promoter. Moreover, such an effect was dependent on an intact PU box. Thus, the ability of PU.1 to potentiate terminal myeloid differentiation appears to involve downregulation of c-myb expression, an essential step during differentiation of hematopoietic precursor cells.

Promoter-dependent synergy between glucocorticoid receptor and Stat5 in the activation of beta-casein gene transcription

Steroid hormone receptors and Stat factors comprise two distinct families of inducible transcription factors. Activation of a member of each family, namely the glucocorticoid receptor by glucocorticoids and Stat5 by prolactin, is required for the efficient induction of the expression of milk protein genes in the mammary epithelium. We have studied the mode of interaction between Stat5 and the glucocorticoid receptor in the activation of beta-casein gene transcription. The functional role of potential half-palindromic glucocorticoid receptor-binding sites mapped previously in the promoter region was investigated. beta-Casein gene promoter chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs containing mutations and deletions in these sites were tested for their responsiveness to the synergistic effect of prolactin and dexamethasone employing COS-7 cells or HC11 mammary epithelial cells. Synergism depended on promoter regions containing intact binding sites for the glucocorticoid receptor and Stat5. The carboxyl-terminal transactivation domains of Stat5a and Stat5b were not required for this synergism. Our results suggest that in lactogenic hormone response elements glucocorticoid receptor molecules bound to nonclassical half-palindromic sites gain competence as transcriptional activators by the interaction with Stat5 molecules binding to vicinal sites.

GABP Cooperates With c-Myb and C/EBP to Activate the Neutrophil Elastase Promoter

Neutrophil elastase (NE) is a serine protease that is transcriptionally regulated during early myeloid differentiation. The murine NE (mNE) promoter contains functionally important c-Myb, C/EBP, and ets binding sites. Deletion of the ets site reduced promoter activity by 90%. Although the ets transcription factor, PU.1, bound to this ets site, it only modestly activated the mNE promoter. Here, we show that a second transcription factor from myeloid cells — GABP — binds to the mNE ets site but strongly activates the mNE promoter. GABP is a heteromeric transcription factor complex that consists of GABPα, an ets factor, and GABPβ, a Notch-related protein. GABPα bound to the mNE ets site and, in turn, recruited GABPβ to form a transcriptionally active complex. GABPα and PU.1 competed with each other for binding to the mNE ets site. GABP increased the activity of the mNE promoter sevenfold in U937 myeloid cells. GABP cooperated with c-Myb and C/EBPα to activate the mNE promoter more than 85-fold in otherwise nonpermissive, nonhematopoietic NIH 3T3 cells. Thus, GABP binds to the crucial mNE promoter ets site and powerfully activates its expression alone and in cooperation with the transcription factors c-Myb and C/EBP.

MNDA dimerizes through a complex motif involving an N-terminal basic region

Human myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen (MNDA) is a myelomonocytic lineage-specific protein that influences gene expression through interactions with other nuclear proteins and transcription factors. MNDA also self-associates and chemical cross-linking was used to demonstrate that MNDA forms a dimer. C-terminal and internal deletion mutants were used to identify two regions in the N-terminal half of MNDA essential for self-association. One region contains an imperfect leucine zipper and the second is highly enriched in basic residues. The sequences that are essential for dimerization are separated by a highly basic amphipathic alpha-helical region which was not required for dimerization.

GAS elements: a few nucleotides with a major impact on cytokine-induced gene expression

Gamma interferon activation site (GAS) elements are short stretches of DNA, originally defined as a requirement for the rapid transcriptional induction of genes in response to interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma). The protein complex binding to GAS sequences in IFN-gamma-treated cells, the gamma interferon activation factor (GAF), is a dimer of Stat1, the prototype of a family of cytokine-responsive transcription factors, the signal transducers and activators of transcription. To date, seven different Stats are known (excluding alternatively spliced or processed forms), six of which recognize the same small palindromic consensus sequence TTCN2-4 GAA that defines a GAS element. Because one or several Stats take part in nuclear signaling in response to most cytokines or growth factors, the GAS sequence has changed from being viewed as a specific site for IFN-activated GAF to becoming the general nuclear end of the Jak-Stat signaling pathways. This review focuses on the identification and definition of GAS elements, their interaction with Stat transcription factors, and their contribution to the specificity of cytokine-induced gene expression.

Human proteinase-3 expression is regulated by PU.1 in conjunction with a cytidine-rich element

Human proteinase-3 is one of three serine proteinases present in the azurophil granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes along with elastase and cathepsin G. Proteinase-3 gene expression is confined to the promyelocytic stage of polymorphonuclear leukocyte maturation. The present investigation identifies elements responsible for this highly controlled tissue- and developmental-specific expression of proteinase-3. Within the first 200 base pairs of the proteinase-3 promoter, two elements were identified as important for expression, these elements at -101 and -190 confer the majority of the activity. The element at -101 has a PU.1 consensus. It binds a myeloid nuclear protein of approximately 45 kDa that "supershifts" with PU.1 antibody and is competed by the CD11b PU.1 element. The element at -190 has a core sequence of CCCCGCCC (CG element). The cytidines but not the guanidine are essential for promoter activity. The CG element binds a second nuclear protein with a molecular mass of approximately 40 kDa that is found in cells of myeloid lineage as well as non-myeloid HeLa cells. However, the proteinase-3 promoter is not active in HeLa cells which suggests that the CG element alone is not sufficient for proteinase-3 gene expression. Maturation of promyelocytic cells results in an inhibition of proteinase-3 gene expression and a reduction in nuclear protein binding to the PU.1 and CG elements. Similar elements occur in the elastase and cathepsin G promoters. Using the elastase and cathepsin G PU.1 and CG-like elements as probes results in identical band-shift patterns to that obtained with proteinase-3 PU.1 and CG elements. These data suggest that there is cooperative interaction between a PU.1 and a CG element with a consensus of CCCCXCCC and that they are important control elements for tissue- and developmental-specific expression of azurophil serine proteinases of polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Interferon regulatory factor-2 directs transcription from the gp91phox promoter

Repressor elements in the gp91(phox) promoter are necessary to restrict tissue-specific transcription to mature phagocytes. Deletion of these elements leads to significant promoter activity in cell lines such as HEL and K562 that do not normally express gp91(phox). The -100 to +12 base pair gp91(phox) promoter region is sufficient to direct maximal de-repressed transcription in these cells. However, promoter activity is dramatically decreased following a 16-base pair truncation that deletes an interferon-stimulated response element. This element interacts with IRF-1 and IRF-2, members of the interferon regulatory factor family of transcription factors. In addition, this promoter region is bound by a factor with properties similar to BID, a DNA-binding protein that also interacts with three upstream sites within the gp91(phox) promoter. Transient transfection studies using mutated promoters indicate that both the IRF and BID binding sites are required for maximal gp91(phox) promoter activity. Overexpression of IRF-1 or IRF-2 in K562 cells leads to transactivation of gp91(phox) promoter constructs, which is dependent on the presence of an intact IRF binding site. IRF-2 predominates in macrophages that express the gp91(phox) gene as well as in HEL and K562 cells. We conclude that IRF-2 and BID activate gp91(phox) promoter activity in the absence of transcriptional repression.

Characterization of the human myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen gene promoter

MNDA (myeloid cell nuclear differentiation antigen) is an interferon alpha regulated nuclear protein expressed only in cells of the human myelomonocytic lineage. To identify mechanisms responsible for this lineage-specific and interferon-regulated expression, the 5' flanking sequence of the gene has been characterized. Two interferon-stimulated response elements (ISRE) flank a multiple transcription start site region identifying MNDA as a TATA-less interferon-regulated gene. Other DNA elements present include a cluster of Myb sites, several Ets, an Ets related PU.1 site and an Sp1 site located within 600 bp of the transcription start sites. In addition, DNA methylation was revealed as one of the possible factors in establishing MNDA expression. The 5' flanking sequence has promoter activity which is elevated by interferon alpha. The findings indicate that MNDA expression is regulated by mechanisms similar to other myelomonocytic cell specific genes and genes up-regulated by interferon alpha.