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Schleussner N, Cauchy P, Franke V, Giefing M, Fornes O, Vankadari N, Assi SA, Costanza M, Weniger MA, Akalin A, Anagnostopoulos I, Bukur T, Casarotto MG, Damm F, Daumke O, Edginton-White B, Gebhardt JCM, Grau M, Grunwald S, Hansmann ML, Hartmann S, Huber L, Kärgel E, Lusatis S, Noerenberg D, Obier N, Pannicke U, Fischer A, Reisser A, Rosenwald A, Schwarz K, Sundararaj S, Weilemann A, Winkler W, Xu W, Lenz G, Rajewsky K, Wasserman WW, Cockerill PN, Scheidereit C, Siebert R, Küppers R, Grosschedl R, Janz M, Bonifer C, Mathas S. Transcriptional reprogramming by mutated IRF4 in lymphoma. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6947. [PMID: 37935654 PMCID: PMC10630337 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41954-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Disease-causing mutations in genes encoding transcription factors (TFs) can affect TF interactions with their cognate DNA-binding motifs. Whether and how TF mutations impact upon the binding to TF composite elements (CE) and the interaction with other TFs is unclear. Here, we report a distinct mechanism of TF alteration in human lymphomas with perturbed B cell identity, in particular classic Hodgkin lymphoma. It is caused by a recurrent somatic missense mutation c.295 T > C (p.Cys99Arg; p.C99R) targeting the center of the DNA-binding domain of Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (IRF4), a key TF in immune cells. IRF4-C99R fundamentally alters IRF4 DNA-binding, with loss-of-binding to canonical IRF motifs and neomorphic gain-of-binding to canonical and non-canonical IRF CEs. IRF4-C99R thoroughly modifies IRF4 function by blocking IRF4-dependent plasma cell induction, and up-regulates disease-specific genes in a non-canonical Activator Protein-1 (AP-1)-IRF-CE (AICE)-dependent manner. Our data explain how a single mutation causes a complex switch of TF specificity and gene regulation and open the perspective to specifically block the neomorphic DNA-binding activities of a mutant TF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolai Schleussner
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Pierre Cauchy
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
- University Medical Center Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vedran Franke
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Science Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max-Delbrück-Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maciej Giefing
- Institute of Human Genetics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Poznan, 60-479, Poland
- Institute of Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany
| | - Oriol Fornes
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Naveen Vankadari
- Department of Biochemistry and Pharmacology, Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Salam A Assi
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Mariantonia Costanza
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marc A Weniger
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122, Essen, Germany
| | - Altuna Akalin
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Science Platform, Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology, Max-Delbrück-Center, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ioannis Anagnostopoulos
- Institute of Pathology, Universität Würzburg and Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken (CCCMF), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Bukur
- TRON gGmbH - Translationale Onkologie an der Universitätsmedizin der Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Marco G Casarotto
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Frederik Damm
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Oliver Daumke
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Structural Biology, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Benjamin Edginton-White
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | | | - Michael Grau
- Department of Physics, University of Marburg, 35052, Marburg, Germany
- Medical Department A for Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Stephan Grunwald
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Structural Biology, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin-Leo Hansmann
- Frankfurt Institute of Advanced Studies, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
- Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Sylvia Hartmann
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Lionel Huber
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Eva Kärgel
- Signal Transduction in Tumor Cells, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Lusatis
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Daniel Noerenberg
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
| | - Nadine Obier
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ulrich Pannicke
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anja Fischer
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anja Reisser
- Department of Physics, Institute of Biophysics, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Andreas Rosenwald
- Institute of Pathology, Universität Würzburg and Comprehensive Cancer Centre Mainfranken (CCCMF), Würzburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Schwarz
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Institute for Clinical Transfusion Medicine and Immunogenetics Ulm, German Red Cross Blood Service Baden-Württemberg-Hessen, Ulm, Germany
| | - Srinivasan Sundararaj
- Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | - Andre Weilemann
- Medical Department A for Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Wiebke Winkler
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wendan Xu
- Medical Department A for Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Georg Lenz
- Medical Department A for Hematology, Oncology and Pneumology, University Hospital Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Klaus Rajewsky
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Immune Regulation and Cancer, 13125, Berlin, Germany
| | - Wyeth W Wasserman
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Therapeutics, Department of Medical Genetics, BC Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Peter N Cockerill
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Claus Scheidereit
- Signal Transduction in Tumor Cells, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Reiner Siebert
- Institute of Human Genetics, Christian-Albrechts-University Kiel, 24105, Kiel, Germany
- Institute of Human Genetics, Ulm University and Ulm University Medical Center, 89081, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ralf Küppers
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University of Duisburg-Essen, 45122, Essen, Germany
| | - Rudolf Grosschedl
- Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, 79108, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Janz
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany
| | - Constanze Bonifer
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Stephan Mathas
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), Biology of Malignant Lymphomas, 13125, Berlin, Germany.
- Hematology, Oncology, and Cancer Immunology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin Institute of Health, 10117, Berlin, Germany.
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint cooperation between Charité and MDC, Berlin, Germany.
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Sharma AL, Shaffer D, Netting D, Tyagi M. Cocaine sensitizes the CD4 + T cells for HIV infection by co-stimulating NFAT and AP-1. iScience 2022; 25:105651. [PMID: 36483012 PMCID: PMC9722482 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The productive infection of HIV, which generates new viral progeny, depends on the activation status of the cell. In this study, we found cocaine exposure sensitizes partially active CD4+ T cells and makes them poised for productive HIV infection. We discovered that cocaine treatment enhances the metabolic state of the cells by co-stimulating several transcription factors, mainly NFAT and AP-1, the two transcription factors, which specifically play a crucial role in enhancing both HIV and the overall cellular gene expression in T cells. We found that cocaine-induced AP-1 works in tandem with NFAT to boost HIV transcription. The enhanced HIV transcription upon cocaine exposure was further confirmed through higher phosphorylation of the crucial serine residues at the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II. The insights gained from this study could aid in developing highly specialized therapeutics combating the deleterious effects of cocaine on the cocaine-using HIV population.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dylan Shaffer
- Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Daniel Netting
- Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
| | - Mudit Tyagi
- Center for Translational Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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Lin CC, Law BF, Hettick JM. Acute 4,4'-Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate Exposure-Mediated Downregulation of miR-206-3p and miR-381-3p Activates Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Transcription by Targeting Calcineurin/NFAT Signaling in Macrophages. Toxicol Sci 2021; 173:100-113. [PMID: 31609387 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfz215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) in the occupational setting may lead to development of occupational asthma (OA), and the underlying molecular mechanisms of MDI-induced disease pathogenesis remain an active area of research. Using a nose-only mouse inhalation model, we find that circulating microRNA (miR)-206-3p and miR-381-3p are downregulated after MDI exposure; however, cellular miR-206-3p and miR-381-3p responses after MDI aerosol exposure and their pathophysiological roles in MDI-OA are unknown. We hypothesize that miR-206-3p and miR-381-3p-regulated mechanisms cause increased expression of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) after MDI aerosol exposure. We examined cellular miR-206-3p and miR-381-3p, calcineurins, nuclear factors of activated T cells (NFATs), and iNOS levels from both nose-only exposed murine bronchoalveolar lavage cells (BALCs) and differentiated THP-1 macrophages treated with MDI-glutathione (GSH) conjugates. Both in vivo murine MDI aerosol exposure and in vitro MDI-GSH exposures in THP-1 macrophages result in downregulation of endogenous miR-206-3p and miR-381-3p and upregulation of PPP3CA and iNOS expression. Transfection of THP-1 macrophages with miR-inhibitor-206-3p and miR-inhibitor-381-3p resulted in the upregulation of PPP3CA and iNOS. Using RNA-induced silencing complex immunoprecipitation and translational reporter assays, we verified that PPP3CA, but not iNOS, is directly targeted by both miR-206-3p and miR-381-3p. Downregulation of miR-206-3p and miR-381-3p following by MDI exposure induces calcineurin/NFAT signaling-mediated iNOS transcription in macrophages and BALCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chung Lin
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Brandon F Law
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
| | - Justin M Hettick
- Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Morgantown, West Virginia
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Papavassiliou AG, Musti AM. The Multifaceted Output of c-Jun Biological Activity: Focus at the Junction of CD8 T Cell Activation and Exhaustion. Cells 2020; 9:cells9112470. [PMID: 33202877 PMCID: PMC7697663 DOI: 10.3390/cells9112470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2020] [Revised: 11/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
c-Jun is a major component of the dimeric transcription factor activator protein-1 (AP-1), a paradigm for transcriptional response to extracellular signaling, whose components are basic-Leucine Zipper (bZIP) transcription factors of the Jun, Fos, activating transcription factor (ATF), ATF-like (BATF) and Jun dimerization protein 2 (JDP2) gene families. Extracellular signals regulate c-Jun/AP-1 activity at multiple levels, including transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of c-Jun expression and transactivity, in turn, establishing the magnitude and the duration of c-Jun/AP-1 activation. Another important level of c-Jun/AP-1 regulation is due to the capability of Jun family members to bind DNA as a heterodimer with every other member of the AP-1 family, and to interact with other classes of transcription factors, thereby acquiring the potential to integrate diverse extrinsic and intrinsic signals into combinatorial regulation of gene expression. Here, we review how these features of c-Jun/AP-1 regulation underlie the multifaceted output of c-Jun biological activity, eliciting quite distinct cellular responses, such as neoplastic transformation, differentiation and apoptosis, in different cell types. In particular, we focus on the current understanding of the role of c-Jun/AP-1 in the response of CD8 T cells to acute infection and cancer. We highlight the transcriptional and epigenetic regulatory mechanisms through which c-Jun/AP-1 participates in the productive immune response of CD8 T cells, and how its downregulation may contribute to the dysfunctional state of tumor infiltrating CD8 T cells. Additionally, we discuss recent insights pointing at c-Jun as a suitable target for immunotherapy-based combination approaches to reinvigorate anti-tumor immune functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasios G. Papavassiliou
- Department of Biological Chemistry, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, 11527 Athens, Greece;
| | - Anna Maria Musti
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-3337543732
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Yu X, Gao R, Li Y, Zeng C. Regulation of PD-1 in T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Eur J Pharmacol 2020; 881:173240. [PMID: 32497624 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2020.173240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Study of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer immune escape is one of the core issues in immuno-oncology research. Cancer cells can evade T cell cytotoxicity by exploiting the upregulation of T cell inhibitory receptors on T cells and their ligands on cancer cells. These upregulated proteins include the inhibitory receptor programmed cell-death protein 1 (PD-1) and its ligand programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1), which can induce T cell exhaustion and reduce T cell activation. Characterizing PD-1 regulation will help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying T cell exhaustion and improve cancer treatment. Recent studies have found that tumor cells regulate PD-1 during gene transcription, post-transcriptional regulation, and post-translational modification and influence the effects of the anticancer immune response by targeting PD-1. In this review,we summarize the mechanisms of PD-1 regulation in T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xibao Yu
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Department of Experimental Research, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, 510060, China
| | - Rili Gao
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Yangqiu Li
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Chengwu Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Hematology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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NFATc3 controls tumour growth by regulating proliferation and migration of human astroglioma cells. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9361. [PMID: 31249342 PMCID: PMC6597574 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45731-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Calcium/Calcineurin/Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (Ca/CN/NFAT) signalling pathway is the main calcium (Ca2+) dependent signalling pathway involved in the homeostasis of brain tissue. Here, we study the presence of NFATc members in human glioma by using U251 cells and a collection of primary human glioblastoma (hGB) cell lines. We show that NFATc3 member is the predominant member. Furthermore, by using constitutive active NFATc3 mutant and shRNA lentiviral vectors to achieve specific silencing of this NFATc member, we describe cytokines and molecules regulated by this pathway which are required for the normal biology of cancer cells. Implanting U251 in an orthotopic intracranial assay, we show that specific NFATc3 silencing has a role in tumour growth. In addition NFATc3 knock-down affects both the proliferation and migration capacities of glioma cells in vitro. Our data open the possibility of NFATc3 as a target for the treatment of glioma.
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Targeting the NFAT:AP-1 transcriptional complex on DNA with a small-molecule inhibitor. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2019; 116:9959-9968. [PMID: 31019078 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1820604116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) has a key role in both T cell activation and tolerance and has emerged as an important target of immune modulation. NFAT directs the effector arm of the immune response in the presence of activator protein-1 (AP-1), and T cell anergy/exhaustion in the absence of AP-1. Envisioning a strategy for selective modulation of the immune response, we designed a FRET-based high-throughput screen to identify compounds that disrupt the NFAT:AP-1:DNA complex. We screened ∼202,000 small organic compounds and identified 337 candidate inhibitors. We focus here on one compound, N-(3-acetamidophenyl)-2-[5-(1H-benzimidazol-2-yl)pyridin-2-yl]sulfanylacetamide (Compound 10), which disrupts the NFAT:AP-1 interaction at the composite antigen-receptor response element-2 site without affecting the binding of NFAT or AP-1 alone to DNA. Compound 10 binds to DNA in a sequence-selective manner and inhibits the transcription of the Il2 gene and several other cyclosporin A-sensitive cytokine genes important for the effector immune response. This study provides proof-of-concept that small molecules can inhibit the assembly of specific DNA-protein complexes, and opens a potential new approach to treat human diseases where known transcription factors are deregulated.
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Lin CC, Law BF, Siegel PD, Hettick JM. Circulating miRs-183-5p, -206-3p and -381-3p may serve as novel biomarkers for 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate exposure. Biomarkers 2018; 24:76-90. [PMID: 30074411 DOI: 10.1080/1354750x.2018.1508308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Occupational exposure to the most widely used diisocyanate, 4,4'-methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), is a cause of occupational asthma (OA). Early recognition of MDI exposure and sensitization is essential for the prevention of MDI-OA. OBJECTIVE Identify circulating microRNAs (miRs) as novel biomarkers for early detection of MDI exposure and prevention of MDI-OA. MATERIALS AND METHODS Female BALB/c mice were exposed to one of three exposure regimens: dermal exposure to 1% MDI in acetone; nose-only exposure to 4580 ± 1497 μg/m3 MDI-aerosol for 60 minutes; or MDI dermal exposure/sensitization followed by MDI-aerosol inhalation challenge. Blood was collected and miRCURY™ miRs qPCR Profiling Service was used to profile circulate miRs from dermally exposed mice. Candidate miRs were identified and verified from mice exposed to three MDI-exposure regimens by TaqMan® miR assays. RESULTS Up/down-regulation patterns of circulating mmu-miRs-183-5p, -206-3p and -381-3p were identified and verified. Circulating mmu-miR-183-5p was upregulated whereas mmu-miRs-206-3p and -381-3p were downregulated in mice exposed via all three MDI exposure regimens. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION Upregulation of circulating miR-183-5p along with downregulation of circulating miRs-206-3p and -381-3p may serve as putative biomarkers of MDI exposure and may be considered as potential candidates for validation in exposed human worker populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen-Chung Lin
- a Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division , National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Morgantown , WV , 26505 , USA
| | - Brandon F Law
- a Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division , National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Morgantown , WV , 26505 , USA
| | - Paul D Siegel
- a Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division , National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Morgantown , WV , 26505 , USA
| | - Justin M Hettick
- a Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch, Health Effects Laboratory Division , National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health , Morgantown , WV , 26505 , USA
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Alam MS, Gaida MM, Debnath S, Tagad HD, Miller Jenkins LM, Appella E, Rahman MJ, Ashwell JD. Unique properties of TCR-activated p38 are necessary for NFAT-dependent T-cell activation. PLoS Biol 2018; 16:e2004111. [PMID: 29357353 PMCID: PMC5794172 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2004111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) transcription factors are required for induction of T-cell cytokine production and effector function. Although it is known that activation via the T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) results in 2 critical steps, calcineurin-mediated NFAT1 dephosphorylation and NFAT2 up-regulation, the molecular mechanisms underlying each are poorly understood. Here we find that T cell p38, which is activated by an alternative pathway independent of the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase cascade and with different substrate specificities, directly controls these events. First, alternatively (but not classically) activated p38 was required to induce the expression of the AP-1 component c-Fos, which was necessary for NFAT2 expression and cytokine production. Second, alternatively (but not classically) activated p38 phosphorylated NFAT1 on a heretofore unidentified site, S79, and in its absence NFAT1 was unable to interact with calcineurin or migrate to the nucleus. These results demonstrate that the acquisition of unique specificities by TCR-activated p38 orchestrates NFAT-dependent T-cell functions. The p38 MAP kinase, which is required for a large number of important biological responses, is activated by an enzymatic cascade that results in its dual phosphorylation on p38T180Y182. T cells have evolved a unique pathway in which T-cell antigen receptor (TCR) ligation results in phosphorylation of p38Y323 (the alternative pathway). Why T cells acquired this pathway is the subject of conjecture. In this study, we examine the activation of 2 members of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family, which, when dephosphorylated by calcineurin, migrate from the cytoplasm to the nucleus. In T cells with the alternative pathway ablated by a single amino acid substitution (p38Y323F), NFAT1 remained in the cytoplasm after stimulation via the TCR. Studies identified NFAT1S79 as a target for alternatively (but not classically) activated p38, and phosphorylation of this residue was required for binding calcineurin and nuclear translocation. Furthermore, although classically activated p38 induced NFAT1 translocation in the absence of NFAT1S79 phosphorylation, unlike alternatively activated p38 it did not cause NFAT2 up-regulation. This paradox was resolved by the finding that only the latter induces c-Fos, which binds to the NFAT2 promoter and participates in its up-regulation. These T-cell-specific p38 activities provide a strong rationale for the acquisition of the alternative mechanism for activating p38.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad S. Alam
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Matthias M. Gaida
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Subrata Debnath
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Harichandra D. Tagad
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Lisa M. Miller Jenkins
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Ettore Appella
- Laboratory of Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - M. Jubayer Rahman
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology at the Immunology Center, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Jonathan D. Ashwell
- Laboratory of Immune Cell Biology, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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10
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Brignall R, Cauchy P, Bevington SL, Gorman B, Pisco AO, Bagnall J, Boddington C, Rowe W, England H, Rich K, Schmidt L, Dyer NP, Travis MA, Ott S, Jackson DA, Cockerill PN, Paszek P. Integration of Kinase and Calcium Signaling at the Level of Chromatin Underlies Inducible Gene Activation in T Cells. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2017; 199:2652-2667. [PMID: 28904128 PMCID: PMC5632840 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1602033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
TCR signaling pathways cooperate to activate the inducible transcription factors NF-κB, NFAT, and AP-1. In this study, using the calcium ionophore ionomycin and/or PMA on Jurkat T cells, we show that the gene expression program associated with activation of TCR signaling is closely related to specific chromatin landscapes. We find that calcium and kinase signaling cooperate to induce chromatin remodeling at ∼2100 chromatin regions, which demonstrate enriched binding motifs for inducible factors and correlate with target gene expression. We found that these regions typically function as inducible enhancers. Many of these elements contain composite NFAT/AP-1 sites, which typically support cooperative binding, thus further reinforcing the need for cooperation between calcium and kinase signaling in the activation of genes in T cells. In contrast, treatment with PMA or ionomycin alone induces chromatin remodeling at far fewer regions (∼600 and ∼350, respectively), which mostly represent a subset of those induced by costimulation. This suggests that the integration of TCR signaling largely occurs at the level of chromatin, which we propose plays a crucial role in regulating T cell activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth Brignall
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Pierre Cauchy
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah L Bevington
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Bethany Gorman
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Angela O Pisco
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - James Bagnall
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Christopher Boddington
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - William Rowe
- Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Loughborough LE11 3TU, United Kingdom
| | - Hazel England
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Kevin Rich
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom; and
| | - Lorraine Schmidt
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Nigel P Dyer
- Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Mark A Travis
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Manchester Collaborative Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell-Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom; and
| | - Sascha Ott
- Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL, United Kingdom
| | - Dean A Jackson
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Peter N Cockerill
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom;
| | - Pawel Paszek
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom;
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11
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Bevington SL, Cauchy P, Withers DR, Lane PJL, Cockerill PN. T Cell Receptor and Cytokine Signaling Can Function at Different Stages to Establish and Maintain Transcriptional Memory and Enable T Helper Cell Differentiation. Front Immunol 2017; 8:204. [PMID: 28316598 PMCID: PMC5334638 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2016] [Accepted: 02/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Experienced T cells exhibit immunological memory via a rapid recall response, responding to restimulation much faster than naïve T cells. The formation of immunological memory starts during an initial slow response, when naïve T cells become transformed to proliferating T blast cells, and inducible immune response genes are reprogrammed as active chromatin domains. We demonstrated that these active domains are supported by thousands of priming elements which cooperate with inducible transcriptional enhancers to enable efficient responses to stimuli. At the conclusion of this response, a small proportion of these cells return to the quiescent state as long-term memory T cells. We proposed that priming elements can be established in a hit-and-run process dependent on the inducible factor AP-1, but then maintained by the constitutive factors RUNX1 and ETS-1. This priming mechanism may also function to render genes receptive to additional differentiation-inducing factors such as GATA3 and TBX21 that are encountered under polarizing conditions. The proliferation of recently activated T cells and the maintenance of immunological memory in quiescent memory T cells are also dependent on various cytokine signaling pathways upstream of AP-1. We suggest that immunological memory is established by T cell receptor signaling, but maintained by cytokine signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Bevington
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK
| | - Pierre Cauchy
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK
| | - David R Withers
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK
| | - Peter J L Lane
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK
| | - Peter N Cockerill
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, Institute of Biomedical Research, University of Birmingham , Birmingham , UK
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12
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Cockerill PN. Receptor Signaling Directs Global Recruitment of Pre-existing Transcription Factors to Inducible Elements. THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2016; 89:591-596. [PMID: 28018147 PMCID: PMC5168834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Gene expression programs are largely regulated by the tissue-specific expression of lineage-defining transcription factors or by the inducible expression of transcription factors in response to specific stimuli. Here I will review our own work over the last 20 years to show how specific activation signals also lead to the wide-spread re-distribution of pre-existing constitutive transcription factors to sites undergoing chromatin reorganization. I will summarize studies showing that activation of kinase signaling pathways creates open chromatin regions that recruit pre-existing factors which were previously unable to bind to closed chromatin. As models I will draw upon genes activated or primed by receptor signaling in memory T cells, and genes activated by cytokine receptor mutations in acute myeloid leukemia. I also summarize a hit-and-run model of stable epigenetic reprograming in memory T cells, mediated by transient Activator Protein 1 (AP-1) binding, which enables the accelerated activation of inducible enhancers.
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13
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Obier N, Cauchy P, Assi SA, Gilmour J, Lie-A-Ling M, Lichtinger M, Hoogenkamp M, Noailles L, Cockerill PN, Lacaud G, Kouskoff V, Bonifer C. Cooperative binding of AP-1 and TEAD4 modulates the balance between vascular smooth muscle and hemogenic cell fate. Development 2016; 143:4324-4340. [PMID: 27802171 PMCID: PMC5201045 DOI: 10.1242/dev.139857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2016] [Accepted: 10/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The transmission of extracellular signals into the nucleus involves inducible transcription factors, but how different signalling pathways act in a cell type-specific fashion is poorly understood. Here, we studied the regulatory role of the AP-1 transcription factor family in blood development using embryonic stem cell differentiation coupled with genome-wide transcription factor binding and gene expression analyses. AP-1 factors respond to MAP kinase signalling and comprise dimers of FOS, ATF and JUN proteins. To examine genes regulated by AP-1 and to examine how it interacts with other inducible transcription factors, we abrogated its global DNA-binding activity using a dominant-negative FOS peptide. We show that FOS and JUN bind to and activate a specific set of vascular genes and that AP-1 inhibition shifts the balance between smooth muscle and hematopoietic differentiation towards blood. Furthermore, AP-1 is required for de novo binding of TEAD4, a transcription factor connected to Hippo signalling. Our bottom-up approach demonstrates that AP-1- and TEAD4-associated cis-regulatory elements form hubs for multiple signalling-responsive transcription factors and define the cistrome that regulates vascular and hematopoietic development by extrinsic signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadine Obier
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Pierre Cauchy
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Salam A Assi
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Jane Gilmour
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Michael Lie-A-Ling
- CRUK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
| | - Monika Lichtinger
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Maarten Hoogenkamp
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Laura Noailles
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Peter N Cockerill
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Georges Lacaud
- CRUK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
| | - Valerie Kouskoff
- CRUK Manchester Institute, University of Manchester, Manchester M20 4BX, UK
| | - Constanze Bonifer
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
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14
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Bevington SL, Cauchy P, Piper J, Bertrand E, Lalli N, Jarvis RC, Gilding LN, Ott S, Bonifer C, Cockerill PN. Inducible chromatin priming is associated with the establishment of immunological memory in T cells. EMBO J 2016; 35:515-35. [PMID: 26796577 PMCID: PMC4772849 DOI: 10.15252/embj.201592534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Revised: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 12/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunological memory is a defining feature of vertebrate physiology, allowing rapid responses to repeat infections. However, the molecular mechanisms required for its establishment and maintenance remain poorly understood. Here, we demonstrated that the first steps in the acquisition of T-cell memory occurred during the initial activation phase of naïve T cells by an antigenic stimulus. This event initiated extensive chromatin remodeling that reprogrammed immune response genes toward a stably maintained primed state, prior to terminal differentiation. Activation induced the transcription factors NFAT and AP-1 which created thousands of new DNase I-hypersensitive sites (DHSs), enabling ETS-1 and RUNX1 recruitment to previously inaccessible sites. Significantly, these DHSs remained stable long after activation ceased, were preserved following replication, and were maintained in memory-phenotype cells. We show that primed DHSs maintain regions of active chromatin in the vicinity of inducible genes and enhancers that regulate immune responses. We suggest that this priming mechanism may contribute to immunological memory in T cells by facilitating the induction of nearby inducible regulatory elements in previously activated T cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah L Bevington
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Pierre Cauchy
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Jason Piper
- Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Elisabeth Bertrand
- Section of Experimental Haematology, Leeds Institute for Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK
| | - Naveen Lalli
- Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Rebecca C Jarvis
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Liam Niall Gilding
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Sascha Ott
- Warwick Systems Biology Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - Constanze Bonifer
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Peter N Cockerill
- Institute of Biomedical Research, College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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15
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Sturrock A, Baker JA, Mir-Kasimov M, Paine R. Contrasting effects of hyperoxia on GM-CSF gene transcription in alveolar epithelial cells and T cells. Physiol Rep 2015; 3:3/3/e12324. [PMID: 25747588 PMCID: PMC4393158 DOI: 10.14814/phy2.12324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is critically important for normal pulmonary innate immunity and for functional maturation of alveolar macrophages. Alveolar epithelial cells (AEC) are a major source of GM-CSF in the lung and express this growth factor constitutively, whereas most other cells, including T cells, express GM-CSF following inflammatory stimulation. AEC expression of GM-CSF is suppressed by oxidative stress, at least in part through induction of microRNA leading to increased mRNA turnover. In this report, we compare and contrast the effect of hyperoxia on transcriptional aspects of gene regulation of GM-CSF in lung epithelia and T cells of human and mouse origin. Similar to primary murine AEC, human H820 cells that express multiple characteristics of normal alveolar epithelial cells express GM-CSF constitutively, with decreased expression and increased mRNA turnover following exposure to hyperoxia. In contrast, hyperoxia induces augmented GM-CSF expression in human and murine activated T cells, in association with enhanced GM-CSF mRNA stability. Alveolar epithelial cells demonstrate constitutive transcription, with the proximal promoter in an open configuration in normoxia, without change in hyperoxia. Conversely, in both human and murine T cells, hyperoxia increased GM-CSF gene transcription. The proximal promoter was in a closed configuration in unstimulated T cells but became accessible upon activation and still more accessible in activated T cells exposed to hyperoxia. These fundamental differences in molecular regulation of GM-CSF expression highlight the distinctive niche of alveolar epithelial cell expression of GM-CSF and offer insights into the biology of GM-CSF in the setting of acute lung injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Sturrock
- Department of Veterans, Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Division of Respiratory, Critical Care and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Jessica A Baker
- Department of Veterans, Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Division of Respiratory, Critical Care and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Mustafa Mir-Kasimov
- Department of Veterans, Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Division of Respiratory, Critical Care and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Robert Paine
- Department of Veterans, Affairs Medical Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA Division of Respiratory, Critical Care and Occupational Pulmonary Medicine, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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16
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Dahiya S, Liu Y, Nonnemacher MR, Dampier W, Wigdahl B. CCAAT enhancer binding protein and nuclear factor of activated T cells regulate HIV-1 LTR via a novel conserved downstream site in cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. PLoS One 2014; 9:e88116. [PMID: 24551078 PMCID: PMC3925103 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0088116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2013] [Accepted: 01/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional control of the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) promoter, the long terminal repeat (LTR), is achieved by interactions with cis-acting elements present both upstream and downstream of the start site. In silico transcription factor binding analysis of the HIV-1 subtype B LTR sequences revealed a potential downstream CCAAT enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) binding site. This binding site (+158 to+172), designated DS3, was found to be conserved in 67% of 3,858 unique subtype B LTR sequences analyzed in terms of nucleotide sequence as well as physical location in the LTR. DS3 was found to be well represented in other subtypes as well. Interestingly, DS3 overlaps with a previously identified region that bind members of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) family of proteins. NFATc2 exhibited a higher relative affinity for DS3 as compared with members of the C/EBP family (C/EBP α and β). DS3 was able to compete efficiently with the low-affinity upstream C/EBP binding site I with respect to C/EBP binding, suggesting utilization of both NFAT and C/EBP. Moreover, cyclosporine A treatment, which has been shown to prevent dephosphorylation and nuclear translocation of NFAT isoforms, resulted in enhanced C/EBPα binding. The interactions at DS3 were also validated in an integrated HIV-1 LTR in chronically infected U1 cells. A binding knockout of DS3 demonstrated reduced HIV-1 LTR-directed transcription under both basal and interleukin-6-stimulated conditions only in cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage cells and not in cells of T-cell origin. Thus, the events at DS3 positively regulate the HIV-1 promoter in cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Satinder Dahiya
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Yujie Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Michael R. Nonnemacher
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Will Dampier
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Brian Wigdahl
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, and Center for Molecular Virology and Translational Neuroscience, Institute for Molecular Medicine and Infectious Disease, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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17
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Liu H, Zhao Q, Song Q, Zhou FH, Kang HJ, Pan L, Yao YM. Release of High Mobility Protein Box-1 is Greatly Regulated by Nuclear Factor of Activated T Cell-2 in Human Monocytes. EUR J INFLAMM 2014. [DOI: 10.1177/1721727x1401200110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Close talk between inflammatory mediators and immunological cytokines has been discovered and reported. In this study, the role of nuclear factor of activated T cell-2 (NFAT2) in regulation of high mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) release was investigated. THP-1 cell and HEK293T cell were incubated and stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Firstly, binding site between HMGB1 and NFAT2 was identified by co-immunoprecipitation (IP). Box A, Box B and CT domain of HMGB1 were constructed, as well as Rel-homology-domain (RHD), pre-RHD and pro-RHD of NFAT2. THP-1 cell was harvested, cell lysate and culture medium were collected at appointed times. Binding between HMGB1 and NFAT2 was measured, HMGB1 protein level in culture medium was analyzed at the same time. Secondly, the role of NFAT2 in regulating HMGB1 release was investigated. When THP-1 cell was cultured for 24 h, HMGB1 protein level was measured at appointed times with or without siRNA to inhibit NFAT2 expression. Our data show that HMGB1 bound to NFAT2 in THP-1 cell cytoplasm. Further experiments showed that box B domain of HMGB1 could bind to pre-RHD of NFAT2. After stimulation by LPS, interaction between HMGB1 and NFAT2 was discovered decreasing gradually. However, HMGB1 protein level increased in culture medium at the same time. Furthermore, HMGB1 release could be enhanced by NFAT2 inhibition. Taken together, release of HMGB1 could be regulated by NFAT2 in human monocytes.
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Affiliation(s)
- H. Liu
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Q. Zhao
- Gastroenterology Department of Nanlou, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Q. Song
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - F-H. Zhou
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - H-J. Kang
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - L. Pan
- Critical Care Medicine Department, Chinese PLA General Hospital, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Y-M. Yao
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Burns Institute, First Hospital Affiliated to the Chinese PLA General Hospital (formerly 304th Hospital), Beijing, People's Republic of China
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18
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Baxter EW, Mirabella F, Bowers SR, James SR, Bonavita AM, Bertrand E, Strogantsev R, Hawwari A, Bert AG, Gonzalez de Arce A, West AG, Bonifer C, Cockerill PN. The inducible tissue-specific expression of the human IL-3/GM-CSF locus is controlled by a complex array of developmentally regulated enhancers. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2012; 189:4459-69. [PMID: 23024272 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1201915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The closely linked human IL-3 and GM-CSF genes are tightly regulated and are expressed in activated T cells and mast cells. In this study, we used transgenic mice to study the developmental regulation of this locus and to identify DNA elements required for its correct activity in vivo. Because these two genes are separated by a CTCF-dependent insulator, and the GM-CSF gene is regulated primarily by its own upstream enhancer, the main objective in this study was to identify regions of the locus required for correct IL-3 gene expression. We initially found that the previously identified proximal upstream IL-3 enhancers were insufficient to account for the in vivo activity of the IL-3 gene. However, an extended analysis of DNase I-hypersensitive sites (DHSs) spanning the entire upstream IL-3 intergenic region revealed the existence of a complex cluster of both constitutive and inducible DHSs spanning the -34- to -40-kb region. The tissue specificity of these DHSs mirrored the activity of the IL-3 gene, and included a highly inducible cyclosporin A-sensitive enhancer at -37 kb that increased IL-3 promoter activity 40-fold. Significantly, inclusion of this region enabled correct in vivo regulation of IL-3 gene expression in T cells, mast cells, and myeloid progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Euan W Baxter
- Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom
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19
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Vieira L, Vaz A, Matos P, Ambrósio AP, Nogueira M, Marques B, Pereira AM, Jordan P, da Silva MG. Three-way translocation (X;20;16)(p11;q13;q23) in essential thrombocythemia implicates NFATC2 in dysregulation of CSF2 expression and megakaryocyte proliferation. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2012; 51:1093-108. [PMID: 22911897 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.21994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm essentially characterized by excessive production of platelets. Molecular pathogenesis of ET is linked in approximately half of the patients to intracellular cytokine signaling dysregulation as a result of thrombopoietin receptor or Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) mutations. However, genetic defects underlying cytokine transcription have not been associated with ET. Using molecular cytogenetics and whole-genome array analyses, we uncovered a submicroscopic deletion at 20q13.2 in a JAK2V617F-positive ET patient with an acquired complex chromosome translocation. The deletion encompassed the nuclear factor of activated T-cells, cytoplasmic, calcineurin-dependent 2 (NFATC2) gene that encodes a transcription factor involved in the regulation of hematopoietic cytokines. RNA interference-mediated suppression of NFATC2 mRNA or pharmacological inhibition of NFATC2 protein with 11R-VIVIT in cultured JAK2V617F-positive SET-2 megakaryocytes increased colony stimulating factor 2 (granulocyte-macrophage) (CSF2) mRNA and promoted cell proliferation. Moreover, impairment of NFATC2-calcineurin interaction with 11R-VIVIT further reduced the transcription of the NFATC2 gene. Antibody-mediated neutralization of CSF2 cytokine in inhibitor-treated cells prevented 11R-VIVIT-induced cell proliferation, indicating that impairment of NFATC2-calcineurin interaction promotes megakaryocyte proliferation through up-regulation of CSF2 transcription. Our results suggest a model in which haplo-insufficiency of NFATC2 cooperates with activation of the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of JAK2V617F-positive ET with del(20q). These results further indicate that pathogenesis of ET may be linked to genetic defects of other transcription factor genes involved in the regulation of cytokine expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luís Vieira
- Departamento de Genética Humana, Instituto Nacional de Saúde Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal.
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20
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Rada-Iglesias A, Bajpai R, Swigut T, Brugmann SA, Flynn RA, Wysocka J. A unique chromatin signature uncovers early developmental enhancers in humans. Nature 2010; 470:279-83. [PMID: 21160473 DOI: 10.1038/nature09692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1645] [Impact Index Per Article: 117.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2010] [Accepted: 11/25/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cell-fate transitions involve the integration of genomic information encoded by regulatory elements, such as enhancers, with the cellular environment. However, identification of genomic sequences that control human embryonic development represents a formidable challenge. Here we show that in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), unique chromatin signatures identify two distinct classes of genomic elements, both of which are marked by the presence of chromatin regulators p300 and BRG1, monomethylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me1), and low nucleosomal density. In addition, elements of the first class are distinguished by the acetylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27ac), overlap with previously characterized hESC enhancers, and are located proximally to genes expressed in hESCs and the epiblast. In contrast, elements of the second class, which we term 'poised enhancers', are distinguished by the absence of H3K27ac, enrichment of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation (H3K27me3), and are linked to genes inactive in hESCs and instead are involved in orchestrating early steps in embryogenesis, such as gastrulation, mesoderm formation and neurulation. Consistent with the poised identity, during differentiation of hESCs to neuroepithelium, a neuroectoderm-specific subset of poised enhancers acquires a chromatin signature associated with active enhancers. When assayed in zebrafish embryos, poised enhancers are able to direct cell-type and stage-specific expression characteristic of their proximal developmental gene, even in the absence of sequence conservation in the fish genome. Our data demonstrate that early developmental enhancers are epigenetically pre-marked in hESCs and indicate an unappreciated role of H3K27me3 at distal regulatory elements. Moreover, the wealth of new regulatory sequences identified here provides an invaluable resource for studies and isolation of transient, rare cell populations representing early stages of human embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alvaro Rada-Iglesias
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, USA
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21
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Panchenko MP, Siddiquee Z, Dombkowski DM, Alekseyev YO, Lenburg ME, Walker JD, Macgillivray TE, Preffer FI, Stone JR. Protein kinase CK1alphaLS promotes vascular cell proliferation and intimal hyperplasia. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2010; 177:1562-72. [PMID: 20696773 DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2010.100327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Protein kinase CK1alpha regulates several fundamental cellular processes including proliferation and differentiation. Up to four forms of this kinase are expressed in vertebrates resulting from alternative splicing of exons; these exons encode either the L-insert located within the catalytic domain or the S-insert located at the C terminus of the protein. Whereas the L-insert is known to target the kinase to the nucleus, the functional significance of nuclear CK1alphaLS has been unclear. Here we demonstrate that selective L-insert-targeted short hairpin small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of CK1alphaLS in human vascular endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells impairs proliferation and abolishes hydrogen peroxide-stimulated proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells, with the cells accumulating in G(0)/G(1). In addition, selective knockdown of CK1alphaLS in cultured human arteries inhibits vascular activation, preventing smooth muscle cell proliferation, intimal hyperplasia, and proteoglycan deposition. Knockdown of CK1alphaLS results in the harmonious down-regulation of its target substrate heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein C and results in the altered expression or alternative splicing of key genes involved in cellular activation including CXCR4, MMP3, CSF2, and SMURF1. Our results indicate that the nuclear form of CK1alpha in humans, CK1alphaLS, plays a critical role in vascular cell proliferation, cellular activation, and hydrogen peroxide-mediated mitogenic signal transduction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikhail P Panchenko
- Center for Systems Biology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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22
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Strait KA, Stricklett PK, Kohan RM, Kohan DE. Identification of two nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT)-response elements in the 5'-upstream regulatory region of the ET-1 promoter. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:28520-8. [PMID: 20647310 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.153189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Collecting duct-derived ET-1 regulates salt excretion and blood pressure. We have reported the presence of an inner medullary collecting duct (IMCD)-specific enhancer region in the 5'-upstream ET-1 promoter (Strait, K. A., Stricklett, P. K., Kohan, J. L., Miller, M. B., and Kohan, D. E. (2007) Am. J. Physiol. Renal Physiol. 293, F601-F606). The current studies provide further characterization of the ET-1 5'-upstream distal promoter to identify the IMCD-specific enhancer elements. Deletion studies identified two regions of the 5'-upstream ET-1 promoter, -1725 to -1319 bp and -1319 to -1026 bp, which were required for maximal promoter activity in transfected rat IMCD cells. Transcription factor binding site analysis of these regions identified two consensus nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFAT) binding sites at -1263 and -1563. EMSA analysis using nuclear extracts from IMCD cells showed that both the -1263 and the -1563 NFAT sites in the ET-1 distal promoter competed for NFAT binding to previously identified NFAT sites in the IL-2 and TNF genes. Gel supershift analysis showed that each of the NFAT binding sites in the ET-1 promoter bound NFAT proteins derived from IMCD nuclear extracts, but they selectively bound different NFAT isoforms; ET-1263 bound NFATc1, whereas ET-1563 bound NFATc3. Site-directed mutagenesis of either the ET-1263 or the ET-1563 sites prevented NFAT binding and reduced ET-1 promoter activity. Thus, NFAT appears to be an important regulator of ET-1 transcription in IMCD cells, and thus, it may play a role in controlling blood pressure through ET-1 regulation of renal salt excretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin A Strait
- Division of Nephrology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, Utah 84132, USA
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23
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Glucocorticoids inhibit IL-1beta-induced GM-CSF expression at multiple levels: roles for the ERK pathway and repression by MKP-1. Biochem J 2010; 427:113-24. [PMID: 20100175 DOI: 10.1042/bj20091038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
In the present study, IL (interleukin)-1beta increased GM-CSF (granulocyte/macrophage colony-stimulating factor) expression from pulmonary A549 cells and primary HBE (human bronchial epithelial) cells. These responses were repressed by the glucocorticoid dexamethasone, allowing the use of A549 cells as a relevant model. IL-1beta induced GM-CSF release into the culture medium by 6 h and in cell lysates (cytosolic) at 2 h. These effects were profoundly inhibited by dexamethasone, yet IL-1beta-induced GM-CSF mRNA and unspliced nRNA (nuclear RNA; a surrogate of transcription rate) were modestly inhibited by dexamethasone at times up to 2 h. Although this indicates an effect on protein synthesis, actinomycin D chase experiments also indicated post-transcriptional repression by dexamethasone. Dexamethasone-dependent mRNA repression increased with time and was prevented by translational blockade. In addition, dexamethasone and the dissociated steroid RU24858 repressed GM-CSF release in an actinomycin D-sensitive manner, thereby implicating glucocorticoid-induced gene expression. At 2 h, IL-1beta-induced expression of GM-CSF protein, but not mRNA, was sensitive to the MEK [MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase)/ERK (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase) kinase] inhibitors PD098059 and U0126. Although this indicates a role for the MEK/ERK pathway in GM-CSF translation, PD098059 subsequently destabilized GM-CSF mRNA. Dexamethasone and RU24858 both reduced IL-1beta-induced ERK phosphorylation and increased MKP-1 (MAPK phosphatase-1) expression. Inhibition of ERK phosphorylation was reproduced by MKP-1 overexpression and prevented by MKP-1-targeting siRNA (small interfering RNA). Since MKP-1 prevented GM-CSF expression by transcriptional, post-transcriptional and translational processes, we propose that glucocorticoids induce MKP-1 expression to reduce both MEK/ERK activation and GM-CSF protein synthesis. Thus de novo gene expression, particularly of MKP-1, is involved in the repressive effects of glucocorticoids.
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Cockerill PN. NFAT is well placed to direct both enhancer looping and domain-wide models of enhancer function. Sci Signal 2008; 1:pe15. [PMID: 18385038 DOI: 10.1126/stke.113pe15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) plays a central role in activating gene expression at the level of chromatin structure. A study now reveals that NFAT may also help to organize chromatin domains and enable enhancer-promoter communication. In activated T cells, inducible intrachromosomal looping occurs between the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene promoter and two NFAT-dependent enhancers located at -9 kb and +3 kb. This topology places the TNF-alpha gene and the adjacent lymphotoxin (LT) genes in separate loops, thereby allowing independent regulation of the TNF-alpha gene within a multigene locus. These findings build on other studies that indicate that NFAT is intimately associated with activities that disrupt nucleosomes within enhancers and mobilize nucleosomes across extensive chromatin domains linking enhancers and promoters. Taken together, these studies highlight NFAT as a factor that creates a chromatin environment that is permissive for both the recruitment and the clustering of factors that control transcription at promoters and enhancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter N Cockerill
- Experimental Haematology, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Leeds, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building, St James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, UK.
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Mellström B, Savignac M, Gomez-Villafuertes R, Naranjo JR. Ca2+-Operated Transcriptional Networks: Molecular Mechanisms and In Vivo Models. Physiol Rev 2008; 88:421-49. [DOI: 10.1152/physrev.00041.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Calcium is the most universal signal used by living organisms to convey information to many different cellular processes. In this review we present well-known and recently identified proteins that sense and decode the calcium signal and are key elements in the nucleus to regulate the activity of various transcriptional networks. When possible, the review also presents in vivo models in which the genes encoding these calcium sensors-transducers have been modified, to emphasize the critical role of these Ca2+-operated mechanisms in many physiological functions.
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26
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Georgopoulos NT, Merrick A, Scott N, Selby PJ, Melcher A, Trejdosiewicz LK. CD40-mediated death and cytokine secretion in colorectal cancer: a potential target for inflammatory tumour cell killing. Int J Cancer 2007; 121:1373-81. [PMID: 17534894 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.22846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
CD40, a member of the tumour necrosis factor family, is expressed in a variety of epithelial cells. Although soluble CD40 agonists are growth-inhibitory, membrane-presented CD40 ligand (CD40L) induces extensive apoptosis in carcinoma cells. This study investigated whether CD40 is expressed in human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells and explored the functional consequences of CD40 ligation. CD40 expression in a panel of CRC lines was assessed by flow cytometry and in resected human CRCs by immunohistochemistry. CRC cells were treated in vitro with soluble CD40 agonists or cocultured with fibroblasts expressing membrane-bound CD40 ligand. Apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry using Annexin V/propidium iodide labelling and by a DNA fragmentation assay. Cytokine secretion induced by CD40 ligation was quantified by a multiplex-bead array approach. We show that CD40 is expressed in a proportion of established CRC lines in culture and that receptor expression is functional. Activation of CD40 by membrane-presented CD40L, but not soluble agonists, causes high levels of death in CD40-positive CRC cells and induces secretion of proinflammatory cytokines. In agreement with our in vitro observations, immunohistochemical studies demonstrated that CD40 is highly expressed in a proportion of colorectal cancer specimens. The high level of susceptibility of CRC cells to CD40-killing combined with the ability of CD40 to induce concomitant secretion of proinflammatory cytokines suggest that CD40 ligation may represent a novel mechanism for elimination of CRC cells and render CD40 a promising therapeutic target for the eradication of colorectal tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikolaos T Georgopoulos
- Cancer Research UK Clinical Centre, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, United Kingdom.
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27
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Rose S, Lichtenheld M, Foote MR, Adkins B. Murine neonatal CD4+ cells are poised for rapid Th2 effector-like function. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2007; 178:2667-78. [PMID: 17312108 PMCID: PMC2112939 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.178.5.2667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Murine neonates typically mount Th2-biased immune responses. This entails a cell-intrinsic component whose molecular basis is unknown. We found that neonatal CD4(+) T cells are uniquely poised for rapid Th2 function. Within 24 h of activation, neonatal CD4(+) cells made high levels of IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA and protein. The rapid high-level IL-4 production arose from a small subpopulation of cells, did not require cell cycle entry, and was unaffected by pharmacologic DNA demethylation. CpG methylation analyses in resting neonatal cells revealed pre-existing hypomethylation at a key Th2 cytokine regulatory region, termed conserved noncoding sequence 1 (CNS-1). Robust Th2 function and increased CNS-1 demethylation was a stable property that persisted in neonatal Th2 effectors. The transcription factor STAT6 was not required for CNS-1 demethylation and this state was already established in neonatal CD4 single-positive thymocytes. CNS-1 demethylation levels were much greater in IL-4-expressing CD4 single-positive thymocytes compared with unactivated cells. Together, these results indicate that neonatal CD4+ T cells possess distinct qualities that could predispose them toward rapid, effector-like Th2 function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawn Rose
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, 1600 NW 10th Avenue, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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28
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Savignac M, Mellström B, Naranjo JR. Calcium-dependent transcription of cytokine genes in T lymphocytes. Pflugers Arch 2007; 454:523-33. [PMID: 17334777 DOI: 10.1007/s00424-007-0238-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2006] [Accepted: 02/14/2007] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The increase in intracellular calcium ion concentration is a general signaling mechanism used in many biological systems. In T lymphocytes, calcium is essential for activation, differentiation, and effector functions. In this study, we will summarize recent developments of how intracellular calcium concentrations are modified in T cells to affect the activity of three major calcium-dependent transcriptional effectors, i.e., NFAT, MEF2, and DREAM, involved in cytokine gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magali Savignac
- Centro Nacional de Biotecnología, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Madrid, Spain
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29
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Bert AG, Johnson BV, Baxter EW, Cockerill PN. A modular enhancer is differentially regulated by GATA and NFAT elements that direct different tissue-specific patterns of nucleosome positioning and inducible chromatin remodeling. Mol Cell Biol 2007; 27:2870-85. [PMID: 17283044 PMCID: PMC1899937 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.02323-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We investigated alternate mechanisms employed by enhancers to position and remodel nucleosomes and activate tissue-specific genes in divergent cell types. We demonstrated that the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene enhancer is modular and recruits different sets of transcription factors in T cells and myeloid cells. The enhancer recruited distinct inducible tissue-specific enhanceosome-like complexes and directed nucleosomes to different positions in these cell types. In undifferentiated T cells, the enhancer was activated by inducible binding of two NFAT/AP-1 complexes which disrupted two specifically positioned nucleosomes (N1 and N2). In myeloid cells, the enhancer was remodeled by GATA factors which constitutively displaced an upstream nucleosome (N0) and cooperated with inducible AP-1 elements to activate transcription. In mast cells, which express both GATA-2 and NFAT, these two pathways combined to activate the enhancer and generate high-level gene expression. At least 5 kb of the GM-CSF locus was organized as an array of nucleosomes with fixed positions, but the enhancer adopted different nucleosome positions in T cells and mast cells. Furthermore, nucleosomes located between the enhancer and promoter were mobilized upon activation in an enhancer-dependent manner. These studies reveal that distinct tissue-specific mechanisms can be used either alternately or in combination to activate the same enhancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew G Bert
- Experimental Haematology, Leeds Institute of Molecular Medicine, Wellcome Trust Brenner Building, St. James's University Hospital, Leeds LS9 7TF, United Kingdom
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30
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Kim HP, Korn LL, Gamero AM, Leonard WJ. Calcium-dependent activation of interleukin-21 gene expression in T cells. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:25291-7. [PMID: 15879595 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m501459200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Interleukin (IL)-21 is a gamma(c)-dependent cytokine produced by activated T cells with important actions for T, B, and NK cells. The IL-21 gene is adjacent to the IL-2 gene, and like IL-2, IL-21 is strongly induced at the transcriptional level after T cell activation. Interestingly, however, in contrast to the IL-2 gene, a calcium ionophore alone was sufficient to induce IL-21 gene expression in preactivated T cells. Two DNase I hypersensitivity sites were found in the IL-21 gene, corresponding to nucleotide sequences that are conserved in humans and mice. One site is located at the IL-21 promoter region and conferred T cell receptor-mediated IL-21 gene transcription. TCR-induced IL-21 gene expression was inhibited by cyclosporin A and FK506. Correspondingly, the IL-21 5'-regulatory region contains three NFAT binding sites, and induction of IL-21 promoter activity was impaired when these sites were mutated or following treatment with cyclosporin A. Thus, our studies reveal that in contrast to IL-2, a calcium signal alone is sufficient to mediate induction of the IL-21 in preactivated T lymphocytes and that this induction appears to result from specific NFAT binding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyoung-Pyo Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, NHLBI, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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31
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Jee YK, Gilmour J, Kelly A, Bowen H, Richards D, Soh C, Smith P, Hawrylowicz C, Cousins D, Lee T, Lavender P. Repression of interleukin-5 transcription by the glucocorticoid receptor targets GATA3 signaling and involves histone deacetylase recruitment. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:23243-50. [PMID: 15826950 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m503659200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoids are the mainstay of asthma therapy and mediate the repression of a number of cytokine genes, such as Interleukin (IL)-4, -5, -13, and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), which are central to the pathogenesis of asthmatic airway inflammation. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) mediates repression by a number of diverse mechanisms. We have previously suggested that one such repressive activity is by direct binding of GR to elements within the GM-CSF enhancer that are recognized by the nuclear factor of activated T cells.activator protein 1 (NF-AT.AP-1) complex. We reasoned that, because many cytokine genes activated in asthma are transcriptionally regulated by the recruitment of this complex to DNA, their binding sites might provide a target for GR to mediate its repressive effects. Here, we show that transcriptional repression of the Interleukin-5 gene involves recruitment of GR to a DNA region located within the IL-5 proximal promoter, which is bound by NF-AT and AP-1 proteins. GR recruitment had a profound effect upon the activation capacity of GATA3, which has a binding site close to the NF-AT.AP-1 domain in both IL-5 and IL-13 promoters. Repression by GR involves co-repressor recruitment, because treatment of transfected cells with the deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A caused a partial relief of repression. Additionally, repression could be augmented by co-transfection of cells with a histone deacetylase (HDAC1). These data suggest that the local recruitment of GR causes repression by inhibiting transcriptional activation by GATA3, a key tissue-specific determinant of expression of Th2 cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young-Koo Jee
- Department of Asthma, Allergy, and Respiratory Science, King's College London, 5th Floor, Thomas Guy House, Guy's Hospital, UK
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32
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Johnson BV, Bert AG, Ryan GR, Condina A, Cockerill PN. Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor enhancer activation requires cooperation between NFAT and AP-1 elements and is associated with extensive nucleosome reorganization. Mol Cell Biol 2004; 24:7914-30. [PMID: 15340054 PMCID: PMC515070 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.24.18.7914-7930.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) gene is activated by an NFAT-dependent enhancer forming an inducible DNase I hypersensitive (DH) site. The enhancer core comprising the DH site contains the GM330 and GM420 elements that bind NFAT and AP-1 cooperatively. Here we demonstrate that both elements are essential for enhancer activity and that Sp1 and AML1 sites in the enhancer become occupied in vivo only after activation. Chromatin structure analysis revealed that the GM-CSF enhancer core elements are divided between two adjacent nucleosomes that become destabilized and highly accessible after activation. Inducible chromatin reorganization was not restricted to the enhancer core but extended across a 3-kb domain of mobilized nucleosomes, within which the nucleosome repeat length was compressed from approximately 185 to 150 bp. The GM420 element is a high-affinity site that binds NFAT independently of AP-1 but depends on the linked AP-1 site for enhancer function. Nevertheless, just the NFAT motif from the GM420 element was sufficient to form a DH site within chromatin even in the absence of the AP-1 site. Hence, NFAT has the potential to cooperate with other transcription factors by promoting chromatin remodelling and increasing accessibility at inducible regulatory elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett V Johnson
- Molecular Medicine Unit, Department of Medicine, St. James's University Hospital, University of Leeds, Leeds, England
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Argyropoulos C, Nikiforidis GC, Theodoropoulou M, Adamopoulos P, Boubali S, Georgakopoulos TN, Paliogianni F, Papavassiliou AG, Mouzaki A. Mining microarray data to identify transcription factors expressed in naïve resting but not activated T lymphocytes. Genes Immun 2004; 5:16-25. [PMID: 14735145 DOI: 10.1038/sj.gene.6364034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptional repressors controlling the expression of cytokine genes have been implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological phenomena. An unknown repressor that binds to the distal NFAT element of the interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene promoter in naive T-helper lymphocytes has been implicated in autoimmune phenomena and has emerged as a potentially important factor controlling the latency of HIV-1. The aim of this paper was the identification of this repressor. We resorted to public microarray databases looking for DNA-binding proteins that are present in naïve resting T cells but are downregulated when the cells are activated. A Bayesian data mining statistical analysis uncovered 25 candidate factors. Of the 25, NFAT4 and the oncogene ets-2 bind to the common motif AAGGAG found in the HIV-1 LTR and IL-2 probes. Ets-2 binding site contains the three G's that have been shown to be important for binding of the unknown factor; hence, we considered it the likeliest candidate. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed cross-reactivity between the unknown repressor and anti-ets-2 antibodies, and cotransfection experiments demonstrated the direct involvement of Ets-2 in silencing the IL-2 promoter. Designing experiments for transcription factor analysis using microarrays and Bayesian statistical methodologies provides a novel way toward elucidation of gene control networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Argyropoulos
- Laboratory of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, University of Patras, Patras, Greece
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Bergmann MW, Staples KJ, Barnes PJ, Newton R. Nuclear factor-kappaB does not mediate the inhibitory effects of dexamethasone on granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression. Immunology 2004; 111:430-4. [PMID: 15056380 PMCID: PMC1782445 DOI: 10.1111/j.0019-2805.2004.01833.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Human granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) reporter constructs containing up to 3.3 kb of upstream promoter sequence were transiently transfected into both Jurkat and HUT78 human T-cell lines. In Jurkat cells, stimulation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) plus phytohemaglutinin (PHA) produced robust increases in reporter activity, whereas HUT78 cells showed low levels of reporter induction attributable to constitutive nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activity. Following mutation of either the proximal NF-kappaB site (-85/-76) or the activator protein1 (AP-1) motif within the conserved lymphokine element 0 (CLE0) site (-54/-31), reporter activity was markedly reduced in both cell lines. Despite this dependence on NF-kappaB and CLE0/AP-1, GM-CSF reporter activity was unaffected by dexamethasone in either cell line. Similarly, an NF-kappaB-dependent reporter was also not repressed by dexamethasone, yet GM-CSF release from HUT78 T cells was inhibited. These data therefore confirm a critical role for both NF-kappaB and CLE0 sites in GM-CSF promoter activation and indicate that NF-kappaB may not mediate glucocorticoid-dependent repression of GM-CSF in these cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin W Bergmann
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart & Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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35
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Lee DU, Avni O, Chen L, Rao A. A Distal Enhancer in the Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) Locus Revealed by Genome Sequence Comparison. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:4802-10. [PMID: 14607827 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m307904200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Large-scale cross-species DNA sequence comparison has become a powerful tool to identify conserved cis-regulatory modules of genes. However, bioinformatic analysis alone cannot reveal how an evolutionarily conserved region regulates gene expression: whether it functions as an enhancer, silencer, or insulator; whether its function is cell-type restricted; and whether biologically relevant transcription factors bind to the element. Here we combine bioinformatics with wet-lab techniques to illustrate a general and systematic method of identifying functional conserved regulatory regions of genes. We applied this approach to the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene. Comparison of human and mouse IFN-gamma reveals a highly conserved non-coding sequence located approximately 5 kb 5' of the transcription start site. This region coincides with constitutive and inducible DNase I hypersensitivity sites present in IFN-gamma-producing Th1 cells but not in Th2 cells that do not produce IFN-gamma. Histone methylation at the 5' conserved non-coding sequences indicates a more accessible chromatin structure in Th1 cells compared with Th2 cells. This element binds two transcription factors known to be essential for IFN-gamma expression: nuclear factor of activated T cells, an inducible transcription factor, and T-box protein expressed in T cells, a cell lineage-restricted transcription factor. Together, these findings identify a highly conserved distal enhancer in the IFN-gamma cytokine locus and validate our approach as a successful method to detect cis-regulatory elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dong U Lee
- Center for Blood Research and the Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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36
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Bergmann MW, Staples KJ, Smith SJ, Barnes PJ, Newton R. Glucocorticoid inhibition of granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor from T cells is independent of control by nuclear factor-kappaB and conserved lymphokine element 0. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2003; 30:555-63. [PMID: 14527927 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2003-0295oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Release of granulocyte macrophage-colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) from T cells is important in the differentiation, maturation, and survival of inflammatory cells. Here the induction of GM-CSF expression from T cells was dependent on transcription and translation and was prevented by dexamethasone. In primary human CD3(+) T cells, up to 3.3 kb of human GM-CSF promoter was strongly activated by PMA + PHA. Mutations in either the -85/-76 nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB site or the activator protein-1 region in the -54/-31 conserved lymphokine element 0 (CLE0) site substantially reduced promoter activity. Both GM-CSF promoter and NF-kappaB-dependent constructs were unresponsive to dexamethasone whereas the release of GM-CSF was potently repressed. Analysis of GM-CSF mRNA and protein expression at various time points and the effect of adding dexamethasone after the stimulus revealed the existence of potent mechanisms of inhibition acting at a translational level. The expression of tristetraproline and HuR, proteins that bind the AU-rich element in the GM-CSF 3'-untranslated region was unaffected by dexamethasone and overall AU-rich element binding activity was unaltered. Taken together our data support an important role for the NF-kappaB and CLE0 sites in the transcriptional control of GM-CSF expression in primary human T cells and suggest that post-transcriptional/translational mechanisms are key mediators of glucocorticoid-dependent repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin W Bergmann
- Department of Thoracic Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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37
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Qiu P. Recent advances in computational promoter analysis in understanding the transcriptional regulatory network. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 309:495-501. [PMID: 12963016 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2003.08.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
The computational approach to the study of transcriptional regulation networks has become more attractive and feasible with the rapid accumulation of complete genome sequences and the advance of high-throughput expression profiling technology. In this review, current computational approaches for understanding the transcriptional regulatory network, including promoter prediction, transcription factor binding site identification, combinatorial regulatory elements prediction, and transcription factor target gene identification, are discussed. The role of comparative genomics in transcription regulatory region analysis is also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Qiu
- Bioinformatics Group and Discovery Technology Department at Schering-Plough Research Institute, 2015 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth, NJ 07033, USA.
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38
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Hogan PG, Chen L, Nardone J, Rao A. Transcriptional regulation by calcium, calcineurin, and NFAT. Genes Dev 2003; 17:2205-32. [PMID: 12975316 DOI: 10.1101/gad.1102703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1507] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick G Hogan
- The Center for Blood Research, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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39
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Qiu P. Computational approaches for deciphering the transcriptional regulatory network by promoter analysis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003. [DOI: 10.1016/s1478-5382(03)02341-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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40
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Lu Z, Kim KA, Suico MA, Uto A, Seki Y, Shuto T, Isohama Y, Miyata T, Kai H. ETS2 is involved in protein kinase C-activated expression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor in human non-small lung carcinoma cell line, A549. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2003; 303:190-5. [PMID: 12646185 DOI: 10.1016/s0006-291x(03)00314-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is a cytokine expressed in the non-small lung carcinoma cells (NSCLC). However, transcriptional regulation of GM-CSF is not well characterized in NSCLC. In this study we found that two cis-acting ETS family consensus sites are important for transcriptional regulation of GM-CSF in A549 human lung carcinoma cells. These two sites are located separately at around -40 and -100 bp from the transcription start site. Results of transient transfection assays with A549 cells indicated that ETS2 had a strong positive effect on GM-CSF promoter activity. Furthermore, this activity was enhanced by protein kinase C activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), in an ETS consensus-dependent manner, while PMA could also enhance the expression level of ETS2. The protein kinase C inhibitors decreased GM-CSF promoter activity induced by the protein kinase C activator PMA. We also found that antisense ETS2 mRNA decreased PMA-induced GM-CSF promoter activity, supporting the possibility that ETS2 is involved in protein kinase C-induced GM-CSF transcriptional function. Endogenous expression of GM-CSF mRNA was increased by ETS2 transfection and the increased expression was further enhanced by PMA. These data indicate that GM-CSF is up-regulated by ETS2, a target of protein kinase C.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuo Lu
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
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41
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Huang C, Li J, Zhang Q, Huang X. Role of bioavailable iron in coal dust-induced activation of activator protein-1 and nuclear factor of activated T cells: difference between Pennsylvania and Utah coal dusts. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2002; 27:568-74. [PMID: 12397016 PMCID: PMC2965057 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.4821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) are two important transcription factors responsible for the regulation of cytokines, which are involved in cell proliferation and inflammation. Coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) is an occupational lung disease that may be related to chronic inflammation caused by coal dust exposure. In the present study, we demonstrate that coal from the Pennsylvania (PA) coalmine region, which has a high prevalence of CWP, can activate both AP-1 and NFAT in JB6 mouse epidermal cells. In contrast, coal from the Utah (UT) coalmine region, which has a low prevalence of CWP, has no such effects. The PA coal stimulates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family members of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERKs) and p38 MAPK but not c-Jun-NH(2)-terminal kinases, as determined by the phosphorylation assay. The increase in AP-1 by the PA coal was completely eliminated by the pretreatment of cells with PD98059, a specific MAPK kinase inhibitor, and SB202190, a p38 kinase inhibitor, further confirming that the PA coal-induced AP-1 activation is mediated through ERKs and p38 MAPK pathways. Deferoxamine (DFO), an iron chelator, synergistically enhanced the PA coal-induced AP-1 activity, but inhibited NFAT activity. For comparison, cells were treated with ferrous sulfate and/or DFO. We have found that iron transactivated both AP-1 and NFAT, and DFO further enhanced iron-induced AP-1 activation but inhibited NFAT. These results indicate that activation of AP-1 and NFAT by the PA coal is through bioavailable iron present in the coal. These data are in agreement with our previous findings that the prevalence of CWP correlates well with levels of bioavailable iron in coals from various mining regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanshu Huang
- Department of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, New York 10016, USA
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42
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Abstract
Ras plays an important role in T cell signal transduction through multiple pathways. Here, we demonstrate that, upon stimulation, increasing Ras activity partially substitutes for calcium-mediated signals leading to IL-2 induction. The increase of Ras activity renders Jurkat cells the resistant to cyclosporin A (CsA) through increasing calcineurin activity. Coincidentally, the inducible binding of NIL-2 to a negative-regulatory element in the IL-2 promoter becomes less sensitive to CsA in the cells with increasing Ras activity. The dose of CsA required for inhibition of IL-2 induction in the cells with increased Ras activity remains similar to the concentration of CsA needed for the suppression of NFAT activation in control cells. The results suggest that Ras regulates calcium/calcineurin signalling during T cell activation and the existence of new immune-related target(s) for CsA action at the posttranscriptional level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peihong Ma
- Cancer Research Center, R908, Boston University School of Medicine, 80 E. Concord Street, Boston, MA 02118, USA
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43
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Bower KE, Zeller RW, Wachsman W, Martinez T, McGuire KL. Correlation of transcriptional repression by p21(SNFT) with changes in DNA.NF-AT complex interactions. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:34967-77. [PMID: 12087103 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m205048200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
p21(SNFT) (21-kDa small nuclear factor isolated from T cells) is a novel human protein of the basic leucine zipper family. The overexpression of p21(SNFT) leads to the significant and specific repression of transcription from the interleukin-2 promoter as well as from several essential activator protein 1 (AP-1)-driven composite promoter elements. One example is the distal nuclear factor of activated T cells (NF-AT)/AP-1 element where the AP-1 (Fos/Jun) basic leucine zipper heterodimer interacts with members of the NF-AT family. p21(SNFT) has been shown to replace Fos in dimerization with Jun on a consensus AP-1 binding site (12-O-tetradecanolyphorbol-13-acetate response element (TRE)) and to interact with Jun and NF-AT at the distal NF-AT/AP-1 enhancer element. A detailed biochemical analysis presented here compares interactions involving p21(SNFT) with those involving Fos. The results demonstrate that a p21(SNFT)/Jun dimer binds a TRE similarly to AP-1 and like AP-1 binds cooperatively with NF-AT at the NF-AT/AP-1 composite element. However, Fos interacts significantly more efficiently than p21(SNFT) with Jun and NF-AT, and the replacement of Fos by p21(SNFT) in the trimolecular complex drastically alters protein-DNA contacts. The data suggest that p21(SNFT) may repress transcriptional activity by inducing a unique conformation in the transcription factor complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristen E Bower
- Department of Biology, San Diego State University, San Diego, California 92182-4614, USA
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44
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Hawwari A, Burrows J, Vadas MA, Cockerill PN. The human IL-3 locus is regulated cooperatively by two NFAT-dependent enhancers that have distinct tissue-specific activities. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2002; 169:1876-86. [PMID: 12165512 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.169.4.1876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The human IL-3 gene is expressed by activated T cells, mast cells, and eosinophils. We previously identified an enhancer 14 kb upstream of the IL-3 gene, but this element only functioned in a subset of T cells and not in mast cells. To identify additional mechanisms governing IL-3 gene expression, we mapped DNase I hypersensitive (DH) sites and evolutionarily conserved DNA sequences in the IL-3 locus. The most conserved sequence lies 4.5 kb upstream of the IL-3 gene and it encompassed an inducible cyclosporin A-sensitive DH site. A 245-bp fragment spanning this DH site functioned as a cyclosporin A-sensitive enhancer, and was induced by calcium and kinase signaling pathways in both T cells and mast cells via an array of three NFAT sites. The enhancer also encompassed AML1, AP-1, and Sp1 binding sites that potentially mediate function in both T and myeloid lineage cells, but these sites were not required for in vitro enhancer function in T cells. In stably transfected T cells, the -4.5-kb enhancer cooperated with the -14-kb enhancer to activate the IL-3 promoter. Hence, the IL-3 gene is regulated by two enhancers that have distinct but overlapping tissue specificities. We also identified a prominent constitutive DH site at -4.1 kb in T cells, mast cells, and CD34(+) myeloid cells. This element lacked in vitro enhancer function, but may have a developmental role because it appears to be the first DH site to exist upstream of the IL-3 gene during hemopoietic development before IL-3 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abbas Hawwari
- Hanson Center for Cancer Research, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science, Adelaide, Australia
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45
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San-Antonio B, Iñiguez MA, Fresno M. Protein kinase Czeta phosphorylates nuclear factor of activated T cells and regulates its transactivating activity. J Biol Chem 2002; 277:27073-80. [PMID: 12021260 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m106983200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although several isoforms of protein kinase C (PKC) have been implicated in T lymphocyte activation events, little is known about their mode of action. To address the role of PKCzeta in T cell activation, we have generated Jurkat T cell transfectants expressing either the wild type (J-PKCzeta) or "kinase-dead" mutant (J-PKCzeta(mut)) versions of this protein. Expression of PKCzeta but not PKCzeta(mut) increased transcriptional activation mediated by the NF-kappaB or nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT). PKCzeta cooperates with calcium ionophore and with NFAT1 or NFAT2 proteins to enhance transcriptional activation of a NFAT reporter construct. However, neither NFAT nuclear translocation nor DNA binding were in J-PKCzeta cells. Our results show that PKCzeta enhanced transcriptional activity mediated by Gal4-NFAT1 fusion proteins containing the N-terminal transactivation domain of human NFAT1. Interestingly, PKCzeta synergizes with calcineurin to induce transcriptional activation driven by the NFAT1 transactivation domain. Co-precipitation experiments showed physical interaction between PKCzeta and NFAT1 or NFAT2 isoforms. Even more, PKCzeta was able to phosphorylate recombinant glutathione S-transferase-NFAT1 (1-385) protein. These data reveal a new role of PKCzeta in T cells through the control of NFAT function by modulating the activity of its transactivation domain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Belén San-Antonio
- Centro de Biologia Molecular, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Cantoblanco, E-28049 Madrid, Spain
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46
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Abstract
The controlled expression of cytokine genes is an essential component of an immune response. The specific types of cytokines as well as the time and place of their production is important in generating an appropriate immune response to an infectious agent. Aberrant expression is associated with pathological conditions of the immune system such as autoimmunity, atopy and chronic inflammation. Cytokine gene transcription is generally induced in a cell-specific manner. Over the last 15 years, a large amount of information has been generated describing the transcriptional controls that are exerted on cytokine genes. Recently, efforts have been directed at understanding how these genes are transcribed in a chromatin context. This review will discuss the mechanisms by which cytokine genes become available for transcription in a cell-restricted manner as well as the mechanisms by which these genes sense their environment and activate high level transcription in a transient manner. Particular attention will be paid to the role of chromatin in allowing transcription factor access to appropriate genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A F Holloway
- Division of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, John Curtin School of Medical Research, Australian National University, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
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47
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Bodor J, Bodorova J, Bare C, Hodge DL, Young HA, Gress RE. Differential inducibility of the transcriptional repressor ICER and its role in modulation of Fas ligand expression in T and NK lymphocytes. Eur J Immunol 2002; 32:203-12. [PMID: 11754361 DOI: 10.1002/1521-4141(200201)32:1<203::aid-immu203>3.0.co;2-c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The engagement of antigen receptor can initiate apoptosis of T lymphocytes through the induced expression of Fas ligand (FasL). Forskolin, an activator of the cAMP/PKA pathway, results in antagonism of Fas-dependent, activation-induced cell death (AICD) by suppressed expression of the FasL. We report that forskolin-mediated induction of inducible cAMP early repressor (ICER) correlates with transcriptional attenuation of FasL expression in the AICD model 2B4 T cell hybridoma. ICER is inducible in human peripheral blood CD3(+) T cells, but in CD19(+) B cells, its induction is less responsive to forskolin treatment. Increased expression of ICER correlates with decreased FasL expression in both T and NK cells. ICER binds specifically to the proximal DNA binding site of the nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) in the FasL promoter and in the presence of the minimal NFAT DNA-binding domain, the proximal NFAT motif allows ICER and NFAT to form an NFAT/ICER ternary complex in vitro. Moreover, in the activated 2B4 T cell hybridoma, the proximal NFAT motif participates in the down-regulation of the FasL promoter mediated by ICER. These findings provide further insight into the mechanism involved in cAMP-mediated transcriptional attenuation of FasL expression in T and NK lymphocytes.
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MESH Headings
- Antigens, CD19
- B-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- B-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Binding Sites
- Biomarkers
- CD13 Antigens
- Cell Line
- Cells, Cultured
- Colforsin/pharmacology
- Cyclic AMP Response Element Modulator
- DNA-Binding Proteins/biosynthesis
- DNA-Binding Proteins/genetics
- DNA-Binding Proteins/metabolism
- DNA-Binding Proteins/physiology
- Fas Ligand Protein
- Gene Expression Regulation
- Humans
- Jurkat Cells
- Killer Cells, Natural/cytology
- Killer Cells, Natural/drug effects
- Killer Cells, Natural/metabolism
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/cytology
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/drug effects
- Leukocytes, Mononuclear/metabolism
- Membrane Glycoproteins/genetics
- NFATC Transcription Factors
- Nuclear Proteins
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis
- Repressor Proteins/biosynthesis
- Repressor Proteins/genetics
- Repressor Proteins/metabolism
- Repressor Proteins/physiology
- T-Lymphocytes/cytology
- T-Lymphocytes/drug effects
- T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
- Transcription Factors/metabolism
- Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
- Transcriptional Activation
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Bodor
- Experimental Immunology Branch, Division of Basic Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-1360, USA
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48
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Schubert LA, Jeffery E, Zhang Y, Ramsdell F, Ziegler SF. Scurfin (FOXP3) acts as a repressor of transcription and regulates T cell activation. J Biol Chem 2001; 276:37672-9. [PMID: 11483607 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m104521200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 409] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
We have recently identified and cloned Foxp3, the gene defective in mice with the scurfy mutation. The immune dysregulation documented in these mice and in humans with mutations in the orthologous gene indicates that the foxp3 gene product, scurfin, is involved in the regulation of T cell activation and differentiation. The autoimmune state observed in these patients with the immune dysregulation polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome, or X-linked autoimmunity-allergic dysregulation syndrome also points to a critical role for scurfin in the regulation of T cell homeostasis. FOXP3 encodes a novel member of the forkhead family of transcription factors. Here we demonstrate that this structural domain is required for nuclear localization and DNA binding. Scurfin, transiently expressed in heterologous cells, represses transcription of a reporter containing a multimeric forkhead binding site. Upon overexpression in CD4 T cells, scurfin attenuates activation-induced cytokine production and proliferation. We have identified FKH binding sequences adjacent to critical NFAT regulatory sites in the promoters of several cytokine genes whose expression is sensitive to changes in SFN abundance. Our findings indicate that the ability of scurfin to bind DNA, and presumably repress transcription, plays a paramount role in determining the amplitude of the response of CD4 T cells to activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Schubert
- Immunology Program, Virginia Mason Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98101, USA
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49
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Smith PJ, Cousins DJ, Jee YK, Staynov DZ, Lee TH, Lavender P. Suppression of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor expression by glucocorticoids involves inhibition of enhancer function by the glucocorticoid receptor binding to composite NF-AT/activator protein-1 elements. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2001; 167:2502-10. [PMID: 11509589 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.5.2502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Increased expression of a number of cytokines including GM-CSF is associated with chronic inflammatory conditions such as bronchial asthma. Glucocorticoid therapy results in suppression of cytokine levels by a mechanism(s) not yet fully understood. We have examined regulation of GM-CSF expression by the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone in human T cells. Transient transfection assays with reporter constructs revealed that dexamethasone inhibited the function of the GM-CSF enhancer, but had no effect on regulation of GM-CSF expression occurring through the proximal promoter. Activation of the GM-CSF enhancer involves cooperative interaction between the transcription factors NF-AT and AP-1. We demonstrate here that glucocorticoid-mediated inhibition of enhancer function involves glucocorticoid receptor (GR) binding to the NF-AT/AP-1 sites. These elements, which do not constitute recognizable glucocorticoid response elements, support binding of the GR, primarily as a dimer. This binding correlates with the ability of dexamethasone to inhibit enhancer activity of the NF-AT/AP-1 elements, suggesting a competition between NF-AT/AP-1 proteins and GR.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Smith
- Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergy, Kings College London, Guy's Hospital, London, United Kingdom
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50
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Barbeau B, Robichaud GA, Fortin JF, Tremblay MJ. Negative regulation of the NFAT1 factor by CD45: implication in HIV-1 long terminal repeat activation. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2001; 167:2700-13. [PMID: 11509614 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.167.5.2700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
HIV-1 gene regulation is greatly dependent on the presence of the -104/-81 enhancer region which is regulated by both NF-kappaB and NFAT transcription factors. We have found that a greater induction in HIV-1 long terminal repeat-driven gene expression was observed upon PMA/ionomycin (Iono) stimulation of a CD45-deficient cell line (J45.01) in comparison to the parental Jurkat cells. Unlike NF-kappaB which was not affected by the absence of CD45, NFAT showed a much greater augmentation in nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity in J45.01 cells upon PMA/Iono stimulation. PMA/Iono-induced NFAT activation, NFAT translocation and calcium influx peaked at similar time points for both Jurkat and J45.01 cell lines. The NFAT-dependent promoters from the IL-2 and TNF-alpha genes were also more potently activated by PMA/Iono in J45.01 cells. Interestingly, higher levels of intracellular calcium were consistently demonstrated in PMA/Iono-induced CD45-deficient cell lines (J45.01 and HPB45.0). Furthermore, PMA/Iono induction of calcium mobilization in both Jurkat and J45.01 cell lines was observed to be EGTA-sensitive. Mechanistic studies revealed that CD3zeta and ZAP-70 were more heavily tyrosine phosphorylated in J45.01 cells than Jurkat cells. Analysis of the HIV-1 enhancer by EMSAs demonstrated that the bound NFAT complex was present at higher levels in J45.01 nuclear extracts and that the NFAT1 member was predominant. In conclusion, our results indicate that NFAT activation by stimuli acting in a more distal fashion from the TCR-mediated signaling pathway can be down-regulated by CD45 and that this CD45-dependent regulation in turn affects HIV-1 long terminal repeat activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Barbeau
- Centre de Recherche en Infectiologie, Hôpital Centre Hospitalier de l'Université Laval, Canada
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