Dual role of SIRT1 in UVB-induced skin tumorigenesis

The protein deacetylase SIRT1 regulates various pathways in metabolism, aging and cancer. However, the role of SIRT1 in skin cancer remains unclear. Here, using mice with targeted deletions of SIRT1 in their epidermis in both resistant B6 and sensitive SKH1 hairless backgrounds, we show that the role of SIRT1 in skin cancer development induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation is dependent on its gene dose. Keratinocyte-specific heterozygous deletion of SIRT1 promotes UVB-induced skin tumorigenesis, whereas homozygous deletion of SIRT1 suppresses skin tumor development but sensitizes the B6 mice to chronic solar injury. In mouse skin, SIRT1 is haploinsufficient for UVB-induced DNA damage repair and expression of xeroderma pigmentosum C (XPC), a protein critical for repairing UVB-induced DNA damage. As compared with normal human skin, down-regulation of SIRT1 is in parallel with down-regulation of XPC in human cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma at both the protein and mRNA levels. In contrast, homozygous SIRT1 deletion in mouse skin augments p53 acetylation and expression of its transcriptional target Noxa, and sensitizes the epidermis to UVB-induced apoptosis in vivo, while heterozygous SIRT1 deletion has no such effect. The gene dosage-dependent function of SIRT1 in DNA repair and cell survival is consistent with the dual roles of SIRT1 in UVB-induced skin tumorigenesis. Our results reveal the gene dosage-dependent in vivo functions of SIRT1 in skin tumorigenesis and may shed light on the role of SIRT1 in epithelial cancer induced by DNA damage.

Genetic analysis of NR4A2 gene in a large population of Han Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND

NR4A2 gene is a transcription factor crucial for differentiation and survival of midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons, and several variants have been eported to be associated with Parkinson's disease (PD) in the Caucasian population.

METHODS

To determine whether there is any association of NR4A2 mutation or variation with PD in the Han Chinese population, we performed a genetic analysis of all the exons and exon-intron boundaries in 689 PD patients and 672 controls from mainland China using direct sequencing analysis.

RESULTS

We identified four novel variants and two previously reported variants. Two novel variants (exon 2 c.-20 C>G and exon 3 c.711 C>A) were only found in PD. The others (exon 2 c.-35 A>G; exon 8 c.1615 G>A; intron 4 IVS4-16 G>T; and intron 6 IVS6 + 18 insG) were found in both PD and controls at different frequencies.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, our results suggest that NR4A2 may be a susceptibility gene for PD in the Chinese population.

Decreased NURR1 and PITX3 gene expression in Chinese patients with Parkinson's disease

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The preferential degeneration of midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta is the pathological hallmark in Parkinson's disease (PD). The transcription factors NURR1 and PITX3 have been shown to play a crucial role in the maturation and survival of mDA neurons, and both of them were potential susceptibility genes for PD.

METHODS

  To determine whether NURR1 and PITX3 gene expression are altered in Chinese patients with PD, we measured their gene expression in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) in 255 patients with PD and 211 age- and gender-matched healthy controls by quantitative real-time PCR technique.

RESULTS

 We found that both NURR1 and PITX3 gene expression in PBL were significantly decreased in patients with PD as compared with controls (P < 0.0001). Lower levels of NURR1 and PITX3 gene expression were significantly associated with the increased risk for PD in male and older subjects, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

  Our results provide useful information that the NURR1 and PITX3 gene expression is decreased in the PBL of Chinese patients with PD, indicating their possible systemic involvement in PD.

UVB-induced ERK/AKT-dependent PTEN suppression promotes survival of epidermal keratinocytes

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight is the major environmental cause of skin cancer. PTEN (phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome 10) is a proven critical tumor suppressor. We report here that UVB down-regulates PTEN in primary human keratinocytes, human HaCaT keratinocytes, and mouse skin. As compared to normal skin, the PTEN levels are reduced in human actinic keratosis, a precancerous skin lesion caused by solar UV. PTEN down-regulation is mediated by two mechanisms: (1) PTEN is cleaved by active caspase in apoptotic cells in which AKT activation is reduced; and (2) PTEN transcription is suppressed in surviving cells, and this suppression is independent of caspase activation and occurs in parallel with increased ERK and AKT activation. We report here that the combination of ERK and AKT activation is crucial for PTEN suppression in surviving cells following UVB irradiation. PTEN remains suppressed in these cells. AKT activation is higher in UVB-irradiated surviving cells as compared to UVB protected control cells. ERK and AKT pathways are involved in sustaining PTEN suppression in UVB-exposed cells. Increasing PTEN expression enhances apoptosis of keratinocytes in response to UVB radiation. Our findings indicate that (1) UVB radiation suppresses PTEN expression in keratinocytes, and (2) the ERK/AKT/PTEN axis may form a positive feedback loop following UVB irradiation. Identification of PTEN as a critical molecular target of UVB will add to our understanding of the pathogenesis of skin cancer.

Acute cardiac allograft rejection in nitric oxide synthase-2(-/-) and nitric oxide synthase-2(+/+) mice: effects of cellular chimeras on myocardial inflammation and cardiomyocyte damage and apoptosis

BACKGROUND

The contribution of nitric oxide synthase (NOS)-2 to myocardial inflammation and cardiomyocyte necrosis and apoptosis during allograft rejection was investigated through heterotopic cardiac transplantation in mice.

METHODS AND RESULTS

In the first experiments, hearts from C3H donor mice were transplanted into NOS-2(-/-) and NOS-2(+/+) C57BL/6J.129J recipients. A second series of experiments included NOS-2(-/-) donor hearts transplanted into NOS-2(-/-) recipients and wild-type NOS-2(+/+) donor hearts transplanted into wild-type NOS-2(+/+) recipients. (All donors were C57BL/6J and recipients were C57BL/6J.129J.) In the first series of experiments, no significant differences were observed in allograft survival, rejection score, total number of apoptotic nuclei (TUNEL), total number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes, or graft NOS-2 mRNA and protein. Positive NOS-2 immunostaining occurred in endothelial cells and cardiomyocytes in the allografts; the inflammatory infiltrate was NOS-2 positive only when recipients were NOS-2(+/+). In the second series of experiments, cardiac allograft survival was significantly increased in the NOS-2(-/-) mice (26+/-13 versus 17+/-8 days, P<0.05), along with significant reductions in inflammatory infiltrate, rejection score, and total number of apoptotic nuclei (23.5+/-9.5 versus 56.4+/-15.3, P<0.01) and of apoptotic cardiomyocytes (2.9+/-1.6 versus 6.9+/-2.7, P<0.05). No NOS-2 or nitrotyrosine, a marker of peroxynitrite exposure, was detected in NOS-2(-/-) allografts transplanted into NOS-2(-/-) recipients.

CONCLUSIONS

The data suggest that NO derived from NOS-2 contributes to the inflammatory response and to cardiomyocyte damage and apoptosis during acute cardiac allograft rejection.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in smooth muscle cells and macrophages of human transplant coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

The inducible isoform of the nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) produces large amounts of nitric oxide in response to cytokine stimulation. Previous investigations have demonstrated iNOS expression in the setting of acute and chronic rejection in experimental cardiac transplant models. The goal of this study was to investigate whether iNOS is upregulated in human transplant coronary artery disease (TCAD), a major cause of late mortality after cardiac transplantation.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We studied 15 patients with TCAD and 10 with normal coronary arteries. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were used in tissue sections to localize iNOS mRNA and protein, respectively. The presence of peroxynitrite was indirectly assessed by immunostaining with an anti-nitrotyrosine antibody. Normal coronary arteries had no evidence of iNOS expression. In contrast, 30 of 36 coronary artery segments with TCAD (83%) were immunostained by the iNOS antibody. The presence of iNOS mRNA was demonstrated in these vessels by in situ hybridization. Specific cell markers identified iNOS-positive cells as neointimal macrophages and smooth muscle cells. Nitrotyrosine immunoreactivity colocalized with iNOS expression in arteries with TCAD, distributed in macrophages and smooth muscle cells.

CONCLUSIONS

iNOS mRNA and protein are expressed in human arteries with TCAD, where they are associated with extensive nitration of protein tyrosines. These findings indicate that the high-output nitric oxide pathway and possibly the oxidant peroxynitrite might be involved in the process leading to the development of TCAD.

Invasive phenotype of Trypanosoma cruzi restricted to a population expressing trans-sialidase

Trypanosoma cruzi expresses a developmentally regulated trans-sialidase implicated in the pathogenesis of Chagas' disease. On inhabitation of the extracellular milieu of cultured cells by infective trypomastigotes, the enzyme is restricted to a small (20 to 30%) population of parasites. The biological significance of trans-sialidase expression on this subset, termed TS+, and not on the majority (70 to 80%) of morphologically similar trypanosomes, named TS-, is unknown. To determine the roles of the TS+ and TS- subsets in T. cruzi invasion, we prepared pure populations of TS- and TS+ trypanosomes using magnetic beads coated with a monoclonal antibody specific for the tandem repeat unit of the trans-sialidase C terminus. After removal of nonadherent TS- trypomastigotes, the TS+ trypomastigotes were isolated from the beads by specific elusion with a synthetic peptide epitope of the trans-sialidase monoclonal antibody. Confirmation of TS+ and TS- phenotypes was obtained by immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and sialidase or sialyl transferase activity measurements. The TS+ trypanosomes were highly invasive, as they attached to, penetrated, and thrived in cultured mammalian cells much more efficiently than did unfractionated parasites. The critical role of the trans-sialidase in invasion was underscored by the observation that infection was neutralized by human antibodies to transsialidase. What's more, the TS- parasites, in sharp contrast to their TS+ counterparts, were extremely inefficient in invading epithelial cells and fibroblasts. Further, introduction of small amounts of exogenous trans-sialidase into suspensions of nonpenetrating TS- parasites converted them to a highly invasive phenotype indistinguishable from that of the TS+ population. Rescue of the invasive phenotype was specific for the T. cruzi enzyme, for it didn't happen with bacterial and viral sialidases. The in vitro results were confirmed in the murine model of Chagas' disease, as TS- trypomastigotes were relatively avirulent while TS+ trypomastigotes were more virulent than unfractionated parasites.

beta-Adrenoceptors and dexamethasone synergistically stimulate the expression of the angiotensinogen gene in opossum kidney cells

We transiently co-transfected opossom kidney (OK) cells with the plasmid containing the cDNA for beta 1-adrenoceptor (pBC-beta 1 AR) or beta 2-adrenoceptor (pBC-beta 2 AR) and a fusion gene with the 5'-flanking region of the angiotensinogen (ANG) gene linked to a bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) coding sequence as a reporter, pOCAT (ANG N-1498/ +18). Co-transfection of plasmid pBC-beta 1 AR or pBC-beta 2 AR alone enhanced the expression of pOCAT (ANG N-1498/+18). The addition of isoproterenol further stimulated the expression of pOCAT (ANG N-1498/ +18) when co-transfected with pBC-beta 1AR, but not with pBC-beta 2AR. Moreover, the addition of a combination of dexamethasone and isoproterenol synergistically stimulated the expression of pOCAT (ANG N-1498/+18) when co-transfected with pBC-beta 1AR, but not when cotransfected with pBC-beta 2AR. The synergistic effect of dexamethasone and isoproterenol was inhibited by the presence of RU 486 (an antagonist of glucocorticoid) or Rp-cAMP (an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A I and II). To localize the putative cAMP-responsive element (CRE) and glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE) in the ANG gene, we constructed the fusion gene by inserting the DNA fragment, ANG N-806 to N-465 upstream of the thymidine kinase (TK) promoter fused to a CAT gene and introduced them with pBC-beta 1AR into OK cells. The addition of dexamethasone or isoproterenol alone stimulated the expression of pTKCAT (ANG N-806/-465). The addition of isoproterenol and dexamethasone synergistically stimulated the transcriptional activity of pTKCAT (N-806/-465). These studies demonstrate that the beta 1-adrenoceptor and dexamethasone act synergistically to stimulate the expression of the ANG gene in OK cells via the putative CRE and GREs in the 5'-flanking region of the rat ANG gene. These data should aid in the understanding of the molecular mechanism(s) of the stimulatory effect of catecholamines/glucocorticoid induced expression of the ANG gene in the kidney.

Trypanosome invasion of mammalian cells requires activation of the TGF beta signaling pathway

Trypanosoma cruzi invades most nucleated mammalian cells by as yet unknown mechanisms. We report here that while T. cruzi attaches to epithelial cells lacking signaling transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) receptor I or II, the adherent parasites cannot penetrate and replicate inside the mutant cells, as they do in parental cells. Invasion of the mutants is restored by transfection with the TGF beta receptor genes, as are biological responses to TGF beta. Similar rescue of both TGF beta antiproliferative response and T. cruzi invasion was demonstrated in a hybrid of TGF beta-resistant bladder and colon carcinoma cells. In addition, T. cruzi did not efficiently invade epithelial cells with dysfunction of the intracellular signaling cascade caused by the constitutive expression of the cyclin-dependent kinase cdk4 or of the oncogene H-ras. Treatment with TGF beta, but not with other antiproliferative agents of non-phagocytic cells, greatly enhances T. cruzi invasion. Moreover, infective, but not noninfective, trypanosomes strongly induce a TGF beta-responsive reporter gene in TGF beta-sensitive, but not in TGF beta-insensitive, cell lines. Thus, T. cruzi itself may directly trigger activation of the TGF beta signaling pathway required for parasite entry into the mammalian cells.

Expression of the angiotensinogen gene is synergistically stimulated by 8-BrcAMP and Dex in opossum kidney cells

We transiently transfected fusion genes with the 5'-flanking region of the angiotensinogen gene linked to a bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) coding sequence as a reporter into opossum kidney (OK) cells. The addition of 8-bromoadenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcAMP) (10(-3)-10(-7) M) or forskolin (10(-9)-10(-5) M) stimulated the expression of the plasmid pOCAT [angiotensinogen nucleotide (N) -1498/+18] fusion gene in OK cells in a dose-dependent manner. The addition of dexamethasone (Dex) (10(-6) M) further enhanced the stimulatory effect of 8-BrcAMP or forskolin, whereas the addition of (R)-p-adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate [(Rp)-cAMP[S], an inhibitor of cAMP-dependent protein kinase A, I and II] blocked the stimulatory effect of 8-BrcAMP. Furthermore, the addition of 8-BrcAMP (10(-3) M) or Dex (10(-6) M) or a combination of both stimulated the expression of pOCAT (angiotensinogen N -1138/+18), pOCAT (angiotensinogen N -960/+18), pOCAT (angiotensinogen N -814/+18), and pOCAT (angiotensinogen N -688/+18), but had no effect on the expression of pOCAT (angiotensinogen N -280/+18), pOCAT (angiotensinogen N -198/+18), pOCAT (angiotensinogen N -110/+18), pOCAT (angiotensinogen N -53/+18), and pOCAT (angiotensinogen N -35/+18). To further localize the putative cAMP-responsive element (CRE) in the angiotensinogen gene, we constructed fusion genes by inserting the DNA fragments angiotensinogen N -814 to N -689, angiotensinogen N -814 to N -761, and angiotensinogen N -760 to N -689 of the 5'-flanking region of the angiotensinogen gene upstream of the thymidine kinase (TK) promoter fused to a CAT gene and introduced them into OK cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Beta-adrenergic receptors and angiotensinogen gene expression in mouse hepatoma cells in vitro

We have previously reported that addition of 8-bromocyclic AMP enhances the stimulatory effect of dexamethasone on the expression of the angiotensinogen gene in mouse hepatoma cells in vitro. Isoproterenol is known to stimulate the synthesis of hepatic intracellular cyclic AMP via beta-adrenergic receptors. To study the possible effect of beta-adrenergic receptors on the expression of the angiotensinogen gene in mouse hepatoma cells, we transiently transfected them with a fusion gene with the 5'-flanking region of the angiotensinogen gene linked to a bacterial chloramphenicol acetyltransferase coding sequence as a reporter, pOCAT (ANG N-1498/+18). The addition of isoproterenol (10(-9) to 10(-5) mol/L) alone had no stimulatory effect on the expression of pOCAT (ANG N-1498/+18). In the presence of dexamethasone (10(-6) mol/L), however, isoproterenol enhanced the stimulatory effect on the dexamethasone on the expression of pOCAT (ANG N-1498/+18). The enhancing effect of isoproterenol was inhibited by the presence of propranolol (beta 1- and beta 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist) and ICI 118,551 (beta 2-adrenergic receptor antagonist) but not by the presence of atenolol (beta 1-adrenergic receptor antagonist). Furthermore, the addition of Rp-cAMP (an inhibitor of protein kinase A I and II) blocked the enhancing effect of isoproterenol. These studies demonstrated that isoproterenol enhances the stimulatory effect of dexamethasone on the expression of the angiotensinogen gene in mouse hepatoma cells via beta 2-adrenergic receptor and cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase pathways. Our data may be important in understanding the molecular mechanism(s) of the stimulatory effect of catecholamines/glucocorticoid-induced expression of the angiotensinogen gene in the liver.

Mediation of Trypanosoma cruzi invasion by heparan sulfate receptors on host cells and penetrin counter-receptors on the trypanosomes

Trypanosoma cruzi attaches and invades a large variety of mammalian cells by receptor-mediated interactions, one of them involving the binding of parasite trans-sialidase to host sialyl receptors. Three proteoglycan-deficient mutants of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were used to probe the role of host heparin and heparan sulfate glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in T. cruzi invasion. All three mutants supported adhesion and infection to a much lower extent than the parental CHO cells. One of the mutants, pgsD-677, did not express heparan sulfate while containing three- to four-fold excess chondroitin sulfate, yet the cell line was a poor substrate for T. cruzi adhesion. Proteoglycan-deficient cells obtained by inhibiting GAG synthesis in parental cells with p-nitrophenyl-beta-D-xyloside, were also poor hosts for T. cruzi invasion. Furthermore, digestion of parental cells with heparinase and heparitinase, two lyases that specifically depolymerize heparin and heparan sulfate, reduced the potential of the cells to support T. cruzi adhesion and growth. Lyases that digested chondroitin sulfate and other GAGs did not affect T. cruzi invasion. These results suggest that heparin/heparan sulfate epitopes are receptors for T. cruzi invasion. The corresponding counter-receptor on T. cruzi appears to be penetrin, a heparin-binding protein that promotes trypanosome penetration into cells. Purified penetrin caused agglutination of red blood cells, and the hemagglutination was exquisitely sensitive to heparin and heparan sulfate. However, sialic acid and sialyl compounds did not inhibit penetrin-induced hemagglutination. Recombinant penetrin competitively inhibited T. cruzi invasion of proteoglycan-containing parental cells, but not of proteoglycan-deficient mutants nor of heparitinase-treated cells. Furthermore, consistent with the sugar specificity of penetrin as a hemagglutinin, recombinant penetrin competed for trypanosome invasion of a CHO cell mutant (Lec2) that expresses heparan sulfate but not sialyl residues. Given that the release of sialic acid from the proteoglycan-deficient mutants further reduced T. cruzi invasion, as did the removal of heparan sulfate from the Lec2 mutant, and given that penetrin does not bind to sialic acid with high affinity, the results indicate that the penetrin-heparan sulfate pathway for T. cruzi invasion is distinct from the trans-sialidase-sialic acid route.

Mediation of Trypanosoma cruzi invasion by sialic acid on the host cell and trans-sialidase on the trypanosome

Trypanosoma cruzi attaches and invades a large variety of mammalian cells. The nature of the cell receptors and of the corresponding parasite counter-receptors that mediate T. cruzi-host cell interaction are not known. Three sialic acid-deficient mutants of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were used to probe the role of host sialyl residues in T. cruzi infection. All three mutants supported adhesion and infection to a much lower extent than the parental CHO cells. One of the mutants, Lec2, contains sugar chains terminating in non-reducing beta Gal residues, which are acceptors for sialylation by the T. cruzi trans-sialidase. Re-sialylation of Lec2 cells restored T. cruzi adhesion and invasion to about the same extent as wild-type cells. Digestion of wild-type cells with bacterial sialidase reduced T. cruzi interaction but after re-sialylation, the cells were almost as good as control, naturally sialylated parental cells. These results suggest that T. cruzi recognizes sialyl residues on the surface of host cells during invasion. On the other hand, affinity-purified trans-sialidase blocked T. cruzi adherence and invasion of sialylated cells, and had no effect on parasite interaction with sialic acid-deficient Lec2 mutant. Furthermore, 2,3-sialyllactose, a substrate for the trans-sialidase, competitively inhibited T. cruzi invasion of sialylated parental K1 cells, but 2,6-sialyllactose, which does not react with the trans-sialidase, was without effect, as were other sugars that do not contain alpha 2,3 sialyl residues. These results suggest that the trans-sialidase functions as a counter-receptor for trypomastigote binding to alpha 2,3-sialyl receptors on host cells as a prelude to T. cruzi invasion.

Hormonal regulation of expression of the angiotensinogen gene in cultured mouse hepatoma cells

To investigate the hormonal regulation of expression of the angiotensinogen (ANG) gene in the liver, we constructed fusion genes with various lengths of the 5'-flanking region of the rat ANG gene linked to a bacterial chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) gene as reporter and introduced them into mouse hepatoma cells (Hepa 1-6). As a negative control, we introduced them into a nonhepatic cell line, a mouse testicular Sertoli (TM4) cell line. The level of expression of ANG-CAT fusion genes, pOCAT (ANG N-1498/+18), pOCAT (ANG N-688/+18), pOCAT (ANG N-110/+18), pOCAT (ANG N-53/+18) and (ANG-35/+18) were 3.7, 4, 1.1, 4, and 3-fold higher than promoterless pOCAT in Hepa 1-6 cells. No significant expression of any of these ANG-CAT fusion genes over the promoterless pOCAT was observed in Sertoli TM4 cells. The addition of dexamethasone (10(-10) to 10(-4) mol/L) stimulated the expression of the pOCAT (ANG N-1498/+18) fusion gene in Hepa 1-6 cells in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum stimulation at 10(-4) mol/L and a half-maximal stimulation at 10(-8) mol/L. A combination of dexamethasone (10(-6) mol/L) and 8-bromo-cyclic AMP (cAMP) (10(-3) mol/L) further enhanced the effect of the dexamethasone alone although cAMP alone had no effect. Testosterone (10(-6) mol/L), estradiol (10(-6) mol/L), progesterone (10(-6) mol/L), and thyroid hormone (L-T3, 10(-6) mol/L) did not have this effect in either the presence or absence of cAMP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hormonal regulation of expression of the angiotensinogen gene in cultured opossum kidney proximal tubular cells

Angiotensinogen (ANG) messenger RNA is expressed in cultured opossum kidney (OK) proximal tubular cells. The aim of these studies was to investigate whether steroid hormones (dexamethasone, estradiol, testosterone, and progesterone) could stimulate the expression of renal ANG gene in vitro. Fusion genes consisting of various lengths of the 5'-flanking region of the rat ANG gene linked to a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene were constructed and introduced into cultured OK cells. The level of expression of fusion genes was determined by the level of cellular CAT enzymatic activity. The addition of dexamethasone (10(-12) to 10(-6) M) stimulates the expression of the pOCAT (ANG N-1498/+18) fusion gene in OK cells in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum stimulation at 10(-6) M and a half-maximal stimulation at 10(-9) M. Combination of dexamethasone (10(-6) M) and thyroid hormone, L-T3 (10(-6) M), further enhanced the effect of the dexamethasone alone. Testosterone (10(-6) M), estradiol (10(-6) M), and progesterone (10(-6) M) did not have this effect. Moreover, dexamethasone also stimulates the expression of the pOCAT (ANG N-688/+18) but not pOCAT (ANG N-110/+18), pOCAT (ANG N-53/+18) and pOCAT (ANG N-35/+18). These studies demonstrate that the glucocorticoid hormone is effective at stimulating the transcription of the ANG gene in OK cells, but stimulation is not observed from testosterone, estradiol, or progesterone. Moreover, glucocorticoid and L-T3 act synergistically to stimulate the transcription of the ANG gene.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)