FOXO1 and LXRα downregulate the apolipoprotein A-I gene expression during hydrogen peroxide-induced oxidative stress in HepG2 cells

Reactive oxygen species damage various cell components including DNA, proteins, and lipids, and these impairments could be a reason for severe human diseases including atherosclerosis. Forkhead box O1 (FOXO1), an important metabolic transcription factor, upregulates antioxidant and proapoptotic genes during oxidative stress. Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) forms high density lipoprotein (HDL) particles that are responsible for cholesterol transfer from peripheral tissues to liver for removal in bile in vertebrates. The main sources for plasma ApoA-I in mammals are liver and jejunum. Hepatic apoA-I transcription depends on a multitude of metabolic transcription factors. We demonstrate that ApoA-I synthesis and secretion are decreased during H2O2-induced oxidative stress in human hepatoma cell line HepG2. Here, we first show that FOXO1 binds to site B of apoA-I hepatic enhancer and downregulates apoA-I gene activity in HepG2 cells. Moreover, FOXO1 and LXRα transcription factors participate in H2O2-triggered downregulation of apoA-I gene together with Src, JNK, p38, and AMPK kinase cascades. Mutations of sites B or C as well as the administration of siRNAs against FOXO1 or LXRα to HepG2 cells abolished the hydrogen peroxide-mediated suppression of apoA-I gene.

Insulin-Mediated Downregulation of Apolipoprotein A-I Gene in Human Hepatoma Cell Line HepG2: The Role of Interaction Between FOXO1 and LXRβ Transcription Factors

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) is a key component of high density lipoproteins which possess anti-atherosclerotic and anti-inflammatory properties. Insulin is a crucial mediator of the glucose and lipid metabolism that has been implicated in atherosclerotic and inflammatory processes. Important mediators of insulin signaling such as Liver X Receptors (LXRs) and Forkhead Box A2 (FOXA2) are known to regulate apoA-I expression in liver. Forkhead Box O1 (FOXO1) is a well-known target of insulin signaling and a key mediator of oxidative stress response. Low doses of insulin were shown to activate apoA-I expression in human hepatoma HepG2 cells. However, the detailed mechanisms for these processes are still unknown. We studied the possible involvement of FOXO1, FOXA2, LXRα, and LXRβ transcription factors in the insulin-mediated regulation of apoA-I expression. Treatment of HepG2 cells with high doses of insulin (48 h, 100 nM) suppresses apoA-I gene expression. siRNAs against FOXO1, FOXA2, LXRβ, or LXRα abrogated this effect. FOXO1 forms a complex with LXRβ and insulin treatment impairs FOXO1/LXRβ complex binding to hepatic enhancer and triggers its nuclear export. Insulin as well as LXR ligand TO901317 enhance the interaction between FOXA2, LXRα, and hepatic enhancer. These data suggest that high doses of insulin downregulate apoA-I gene expression in HepG2 cells through redistribution of FOXO1/LXRβ complex, FOXA2, and LXRα on hepatic enhancer of apoA-I gene. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 382-396, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Hepatic nuclear factor 4α positively regulates complement C3 expression and does not interfere with TNFα-mediated stimulation of C3 expression in HepG2 cells

Complement C3 is involved in various protective and regulatory mechanisms of immune system. Recently it was established that C3 expression is regulated by nuclear receptors. Hepatic nuclear factor 4α (HNF4α) is a nuclear receptor critical for hepatic development and metabolism. We have shown that HNF4α is a positive regulator of C3 gene expression, realizing its effects through binding to two HNF4-response elements within the C3 promoter in HepG2 cells. TNFα is a well established positive regulator of C3 expression in hepatocytes during acute phase of inflammation. TNFα decreases the amount of HNF4α protein in HepG2 cells through NF-κB and MEK1/2 pathways thereby leading to a decrease in HNF4α bound to the C3 promoter. TNFα and HNF4α act in a synergetic way resulting in the potent activation of C3 transcription. These results suggest a novel mechanism of C3 regulation during acute phase response in HepG2 cells and display the mechanism of interaction of TNFα-induced pathways and HNF4α in transcriptional regulation of C3 gene.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α positively regulates complement C3 expression but inhibits tumor necrosis factor α-mediated activation of C3 gene in mammalian hepatic-derived cells

Complement C3 is a pivotal component of three cascades of complement activation. The liver is the main source of C3 in circulation and expression and secretion of C3 by hepatocytes is increased during acute inflammation. However, the mechanism of the regulation of the C3 gene in hepatocytes is not well elucidated. We showed that the C3 gene is the direct target for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα) in human hepatoma HepG2 cells and mouse liver. Using PPARα siRNA and synthetic PPARα agonist WY-14643 and antagonist MK886 we showed that activation of PPARα results in up-regulation of C3 gene expression and protein secretion by HepG2 cells. The PPAR response element (PPRE), which is able to bind PPARα in vitro and in vivo, was found in the human C3 promoter. PPRE is conserved between human and mouse, and WY-14643 stimulates mouse C3 expression in the liver. TNFα increases C3 gene via NF-κB and, to a lesser extent, MEK1/2 signaling pathways, whereas TNFα-mediated stimulation of C3 protein secretion depends on activation of MEK1/2, p38, and JNK in HepG2 cells. Activation of PPARα abolishes TNFα-mediated up-regulation of C3 gene expression and protein secretion due to interference with NF-κB via PPRE-dependent mechanism in HepG2 cells. TNFα decreases PPARα protein content via NF-κB and MEK1/2 signaling pathways and inhibits PPARα binding with the human C3 promoter in HepG2 cells. These results suggest novel mechanism controlling C3 expression in hepatocytes during acute phase inflammation and demonstrate a crosstalk between PPARα and TNFα in the regulation of complement system.

Endogenous apolipoprotein A-I stabilizes ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 and modulates Toll-like receptor 4 signaling in human macrophages

Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I) is the main functional protein component of human high-density lipoproteins. ApoA-I shows various anti-inflammatory and atheroprotective properties toward macrophages; however, endogenous apoA-I expression has not been investigated in macrophages. We have shown that endogenous apoA-I gene is expressed in human macrophages at both mRNA and protein levels. Endogenous ApoA-I is localized in intracellular vesicles and at the external side of the plasma membrane in association with ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) and lipid rafts in macrophages. We have shown that endogenous ApoA-I stabilizes ABCA1, moreover, down-regulation of ApoA-I by siRNA results in an increase of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) mRNA and membrane surface protein expression, as well as an enhancement of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin 1β (IL-1β), and inducible nitric oxide synthase (NOS2) genes in human macrophages. TNF-α stimulates ApoA-I expression and secretion (1.2±0.2 vs. 4.3±0.9 ng/mg total protein) in macrophages. Obtained results suggest that endogenous ApoA-I has anti-inflammatory properties, presumably due to ABCA1 stabilization in macrophages; these results elucidate the cell type-specific mechanism of the TNF-α-mediated regulation of apoA-I gene expression in monocytes and macrophages.

Modified low density lipoprotein stimulates complement C3 expression and secretion via liver X receptor and Toll-like receptor 4 activation in human macrophages

Complement C3 is a pivotal component of three cascades of complement activation. C3 is expressed in human atherosclerotic lesions and is involved in atherogenesis. However, the mechanism of C3 accumulation in atherosclerotic lesions is not well elucidated. We show that acetylated low density lipoprotein and oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) increase C3 gene expression and protein secretion by human macrophages. Modified LDL (mLDL)-mediated activation of C3 expression mainly depends on liver X receptor (LXR) and partly on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), whereas C3 secretion is increased due to TLR4 activation by mLDL. LXR agonist TO901317 stimulates C3 gene expression in human monocyte-macrophage cells but not in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells. We find LXR-responsive element inside of the promoter region of the human C3 gene, which binds to LXRβ in macrophages but not in HepG2 cells. We show that C3 expression and secretion is decreased in IL-4-treated (M2) and increased in IFNγ/LPS-stimulated (M1) human macrophages as compared with resting macrophages. LXR agonist TO901317 potentiates LPS-induced C3 gene expression and protein secretion in macrophages, whereas oxLDL differently modulates LPS-mediated regulation of C3 in M1 or M2 macrophages. Treatment of human macrophages with anaphylatoxin C3a results in stimulation of C3 transcription and secretion as well as increased oxLDL accumulation and augmented oxLDL-mediated up-regulation of the C3 gene. These data provide a novel mechanism of C3 gene regulation in macrophages and suggest new aspects of cross-talk between mLDL, C3, C3a, and TLR4 during development of atherosclerotic lesions.

PPARγ activates ABCA1 gene transcription but reduces the level of ABCA1 protein in HepG2 cells

Synthesis of ABCA1 protein in liver is necessary for high-density lipoproteins (HDL) formation in mammals. Nuclear receptor PPARγ is known as activator of ABCA1 expression, but details of PPARγ-mediated regulation of ABCA1 at both transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels in hepatocytes have not still been well elucidated. In this study we have shown, that PPARγ activates ABCA1 gene transcription in human hepatoma cells HepG2 through increasing of LXRβ binding with promoter region of ABCA1 gene. Treatment of HepG2 cells with PPARγ agonist GW1929 leads to dissociation of LXRβ from ABCA1/LXRβ complex and to nuclear translocation of this nuclear receptor resulting in reduction of ABCA1 protein level 24h after treatment. Inhibition of protein kinases MEK1/2 abolishes PPARγ-mediated dissociation of LXRβ from ABCA1/LXRβ complex, but does not block PPARγ-dependent down-regulation of ABCA1 protein in HepG2 cells. These data suggest that PPARγ may be important for regulation of the level of hepatic ABCA1 protein and indicate the new interplays between PPARγ, LXRβ and MEK1/2 in regulation of ABCA1 mRNA and protein expression.

[Transfer of genetic constructions through the transplacental barrier into mice embryos]

Genetic modification of mammalian embryos is an important way to model various changes in human development; also, it is an instrument for studying the functions of certain genes in mammals. Using our own experience in developing modes of delivery of genetic constructions to mammals in a nonviral way, we present here data on the delivery of a eukaryotic expression vector to mice embryos through the transplacental barrier with the use of hydrodynamic intravenous injections of DNA-hybrid peptide complexes to pregnant females. The peptide has a cationic part for interaction with DNA and includes a ligand structure towards receptors of the releasing factor of luteinizing hormone (RFLH, luliberin). Advantages of the suggested method are simplicity, economy, nonimmunogenicity for females, and the ability to multiply repeat the procedure. On the basis of the method, systemic gene delivery into tissues of mammalian embryos may be developed.

[Non-viral gene therapy approach for regenerative recovery of skin wounds in mammals]

The rate and character of skin tissue regeneration after wounds, burns and other traumas depend on the cell proliferation within damaged area. Acceleration of healing by stimulation of cell proliferation and extracellular matrix synthesis is one of the most important tasks of modern medicine. There are gene therapy approaches to wound treatment consisting in the transfer of genes encoding mitogenic growth factors to wound area. The most important step in the development of gene therapy approaches is the design of gene delivery tools. In spite of high efficacy of viral vectors, the non-viral means have some preferences (low toxicity, low immunogenity, safety and the absence of backside effects). Among non-viral gene delivery tools, molecular conjugates are the most popular because of their efficacy, simplicity, and the capacity to the targeted gene transfer. In the present work we have developed two molecular conjugates--NLS-TSF7 and NLS-TSF12 consisting of the modified signal of nuclear localization of T-antigen of SV40 virus (cationic part) and the peptide ligands of mammalian transferrin receptor (ligand part). These conjugates bind to plasmid DNA with formation of polyelectrolytic complexes and are capable to deliver plasmid DNA into cells expressing transferrin receptors by receptor-mediated endocytosis. Transfer of the expression vector of luciferase gene in the complex with molecular conjugate NLS-TSF7 to murine surface tissues led to about 100 fold increasing of luciferase activity in comparison with the transfer of free expression vector. Treatment of slash wounds in mice with the complexes of expression vector of synthetic human gene encoding insulin-like growth factor 1 with molecular conjugates NLS-TSF7 led to acceleration of healing in comparison with mice treated with free expression vector. The results obtained confirm the high efficiency of the developed regenerative gene therapy approach for the treatment of damaged skin tissues in mammals.

[The role of ZF5 and CGGBP-20 transcription factors in expression regulation of human FMR1 gene responsible for X-fragile syndrome]

The human FMR1 gene encodes an RNA-binding protein taking part in translation regulation. The 5'-untranslated region of FMR1 gene contains a large number of tandem repeats of GCC triplets (5-50) which increasing (more then 200) is responsible for X-fragile syndrome (human congenital anomaly). As it has been shown earlier, al least two transcription factors (ZF5 and CGGBP-20) are capable of interacting specifically with GCC-repeats in regulatory regions of some genes. In this work, their roles in FMR1 gene expression regulation were studied. It was demonstrated by electrophoretic mobility shift assay that ZF5 recombinant protein specifically bound with GCC-triplet repeats (GCC9). Tissue-specific distributions of ZF5 and FMR1 proteins are very overlapped in mammalian. Inhibition of ZF5 expression in HepG2 cells (by RNA interference) leads to at least 1.5 times stimulations of FMR1 gene expression in these cells. To estimate the contribution of GCC-triplet repeats in FMR1 gene expression regulation we used two alternative variants of genetic construction: containing luciferase reporter gene under 5'-regulatory region fragment devoid of GCC-triplet repeats or including the GCC9 nucleotide sequence. HepG2 cells were co-transfected by these constructions and expressions vectors of ZF5 or (and) CGGBP-20 respectively. It was found that ZF5 downregulated the activity of 5'-regulatory region of FMR1 gene in both cases (acting probably through canonic 5'-GCGCGC3' sites). The presence of GCC-triplet repeats in the construction weakens this ZF5 effect. CGGBP-20 downregulates the activity of 5'-region of FMR1 gene in the presence of GCC-triplets only. The data obtained evidently indicate differently directed ZF5 effects on FMR1 gene expression and suggest the mechanism to explain the earlier demonstrated phenomenon about increasing of mRNA level in permutation FMR1 allele carries.

[Sterols and their transport in animal development]

The cellular content of different sterols in invertebrates and vertebrates as well as their origin (endogenous and food sources) and significance for the life cycle are comparatively reviewed. The initial signaling role of sterols in the vital activity (in all multicellular animals) and later obligatory incorporation of certain sterols in cell membranes as a plastic components (in vertebrates) are proposed based on the presented data.

[Ap1-like cis-elements in 5'-regulatory region of human apolipoprotein A-I gene]

Several Ap1-like cis-acting elements were found within 5'-regulatory region (-2497...+173 versus transcription start point) of human apolipoprotein A-I gene (5'-apoA-I). Those elements are capable to interact with transcription factors belonging to Ap1 and CREB/ATF families. Those elements are localized outside of the hepatic enhancer (-220...-110) and the sequence responsible for apoA-I gene transcription in Caco2 cells (-595...-192). One of Ap1-like sites (5'-TGAGGTCT-3, Cre/jun2/apo) is present within 5'-apoA-I in two copies - distal (-1798 ...-1791) and proximal (+99...+106) ones. This and other Ap1-like sites - 5'-TGACTCT-3' (-1798...-1791, PF1) and 5'-TGACATCA-3' (-1171...-1163, Cre/jun1) were characterized by EMSA. It was shown by using the specific antibodies to c-Jun and ATF2 transcription factors in EMSA supershift experiments, that the DNA-protein complexes formed by Cre/jun2/apo, Cre/jun1 elements with nuclear proteins of human hepatoma HepG2 cells contain ATF2. The functional role of 5'-apoA-I regions containing Ap1-like sites was studied in cotransfection experiments of HepG2 cells (synthesize endogenous ApoA-I), human duodenum adenocarcinoma Hutu80 cells (do not synthesize endogenous ApoA-I), human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells (do not synthesize endogenous A-I) with expression vectors of c-jun and mekk1 genes. It was shown, that those Ap1-like sites appears to be responsible (the proximal Cre/jun2/apo is more efficient) for tissue-specific regulation of human apoA-I gene expression.

Novel repressor of the human FMR1 gene - identification of p56 human (GCC)(n)-binding protein as a Krüppel-like transcription factor ZF5

A series of relatively short (GCC)(n) triplet repeats (n = 3-30) located within regulatory regions of many mammalian genes may be considered as putative cis-acting transcriptional elements (GCC-elements). Fragile X-mental retardation syndrome is caused by an expansion of (GCC)(n) triplet repeats within the 5'-untranslated region of the human fragile X-mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene. The present study aimed to characterize a novel human (GCC)(n)-binding protein and investigate its possible role in the regulation of the FMR1 gene. A novel human (GCC)(n)-binding protein, p56, was isolated and identified as a Krüppel-like transcription factor, ZF5, by MALDI-TOF analysis. The capacity of ZF5 to specifically interact with (GCC)(n) triplet repeats was confirmed by the electrophoretic mobility shift assay with purified recombinant ZF5 protein. In cotransfection experiments, ZF5 overexpression repressed activity of the GCC-element containing mouse ribosomal protein L32 gene promoter. Moreover, RNA interference assay results showed that endogenous ZF5 acts as a repressor of the human FMR1 gene. Thus, these data identify a new class of ZF5 targets, a subset of genes containing GCC-elements in their regulatory regions, and raise the question of whether transcription factor ZF5 is implicated in the pathogenesis of fragile X syndrome.

Complexes of DNA with cationic peptides: Conditions of formation and factors effecting internalization by mammalian cells

This work was devoted to the study of conditions of the formation of DNA/K8 complex and analysis of factors effecting the entry of DNA/K8 complex into mammalian cells in comparison with DNA complexes with arginine-rich fragment (47-57) of human immunodeficiency virus (type 1) transcription factor Tat (Tat peptide). The stoichiometry of positively charged DNA/K8 complexes has been studied for the first time. Non-cooperative character of DNA-K8 interaction was revealed. It has been shown that along with the positive charge of such complexes, the presence of an excess of free K8 peptide in the culture medium is a necessary condition for maximal efficiency of cell transfection with DNA/K8 complexes. A stimulatory effect of free K8 peptide on the efficiency of mammalian cell transfection by DNA/K8 complexes is likely to be mediated by the interactions of cationic peptide K8 with negatively charged proteoglycans on the cell surface, which leads to protection of DNA/K8 complexes from disruption by cellular heparan sulfates. However, the protective role of free cationic peptides depends not only on their positive charge, but also on the primary structure of the peptide. In contrast with the results obtained for DNA complexes with molecular conjugates based on poly-L-lysine, the aggregation of DNA/K8 complexes leads to a significant increase in the expression of transferred gene.

[Transcription factor ZF5 regulates expression of mammalian gene containing GCC-triplet repeats in 5'-regulatory region in human hepatoma HepG2 cells]

Some nuclear proteins of human HeLa and HepG2 cells are capable of binding to GCC-triplet repeats--(GCC)n > 3 in 5'-regulatory regions of a number of mammalian genes--G-C-elements. According to our previous data, nucleotide sequence (GCC)4 in promoter of mouse ribosomal protein L32 gene (rpL32) between 17 and 6 bp upstream of transcription start site interacts to nuclear proteins from HepG2 cells, and may be considered as a GCC-element. We suggest that one of those proteins, with molecular weight about 52 kDa, which may interact with rpL32 GCC-element, is a known conservative mammalian transcription factor ZF5. DNA-binding domain of ZF5 contains a few Kruppel-like Zn-fingers (Cys2His2-type) interacting with the GC-rich nucleotide sequences in 5'-regulatory regions of a number of mammalian genes. Our results (obtained by EMSA) showed that recombinant GST-ZF5 fused protein containing ZF5 DNA-binding domain specifically binds a few GS-rich sequences: (GCC)g-9riplet repeats, 5'-GCGCGC-3' (known ZF5 consensus binding site) and (more preferable) the fragment (-24...+1 bp) of rpL32 promoter. The high affinity of ZF5 DNA-domain binding with the latter may be explained by the presence in this fragment of two overlapped subsequences, each being capable of binding to ZF5: (GCC)4 and 5'-GCGCGC- 3'. Zf5 cDNA was cloned from HepG2 cells by RT-PCR method, and then used for construction of the gene expression vector. It has been shown that Zf5 cDNA expression vector specifically down-regulates (in luciferase assays) the activity of rpL32 promoter (-155...+159) including the above mentioned GC-rich subsequences by cotransfection of HepG2 cells. Therefore, our results enable us to consider GCC-elements as a novel class of ZF5 targets in 5'-regulatory regions of mammalian genes.

[Hydrodynamics-based transfer of human apolipoprotein A-I gene into mice: study of factors involving an efficacy and duration of the transferred gene expression in animals' liver]

Human apolipoprotein A-I gene (apoA-I) plasmid expression vectors were transferred into mice by hydrodynamic injections into tail vein. Two types of expression vectors were used. First one -pCMVcapoAI contains cDNA of apo A-I driven by human cytomegalovirus early gene promoter (CMV). Second one--pAlg contains genomic locus of intron-containing apo A-I under control of own extended 5'-regulatory region (APOAI). Hydrodynamic intravenous injections of both expression vectors led to appearance of human apo A-I mRNA in the liver and human Apo A-I protein in the serum of injected mice. Dynamics of human Apo A-I content in the serum of mice injected by pCMVcapoAI and pAlg were different. When pCMVcapoAI was used, maximal concentration of human Apo A-I protein in the mouse serum was detected one day after injection with following decline to zero level during next two weeks. Under the same conditions injections of pAlg led to maximal level of human Apo A-I concentration in the mouse serum (up to 20 mkg/ml in some animals) on the 5th-7th day of experiment with following graduate decline during several months (human Apo A-I concentration in the serum of oldest analyzed mouse (6 months after injection) was about 25% of its maximal level in the same animal). Levels of human Apo A-I concentration in the mouse serum were compatible after injections of both expression vectors, in spite of much more strong activity of CMV promoter in comparison with APOAI in cultured human hepatoma cells HepG2. We ascribe the revealed difference in dynamics of human Apo A-I expression to delay of apo A-I transcription from pAlg vector, that was confirmed by nested RT-PCR. Significant level and long-term persistence of human Apo A-I in the serum of mice injected by pAlg could be explained by properties of APOAI or (and) exon-intron structure of genomic apo A-I gene. To test the role of APOAI in long-term expression of human Apo A-I in the mice we performed hydrodynamic injections of plasmid vectors containing cDNA of reporter gene encoding luciferase driven by variants of APOAI. No long-term expression of luciferase was found in the livers of injected mice. Therefore, our data suggest the role of exon-intron structure in maintaining of efficient and long-term expression of transferred human apo A-I.

Complexes of plasmid DNA with basic domain 47-57 of the HIV-1 Tat protein are transferred to mammalian cells by endocytosis-mediated pathways

Arginine-rich peptides, penetratins, as part of a number of cellular and viral proteins, can penetrate across plasma membrane directly, without participation of endocytosis. We show that one of penetratins, the basic domain 47-57 of human immunodeficiency virus, type 1, transcription factor Tat (Tat peptide), is able to interact with plasmid DNA electrostatically. These interactions result in formation of polyelectrolytic complexes at various negative/positive charge ratios of plasmid DNA and Tat peptide. Plasmid DNA is capable of binding to Tat peptide up to 1.7-fold excess of the complex positive charge. The DNA-Tat complexes can be used for delivery of plasmid DNA into mammalian cells. Transfection efficacy of cultured cells by DNA-Tat complexes is stimulated by free Tat peptide, most likely because it protects DNA-Tat complexes from disruption by anionic proteoglycans of cellular surface. Our data strongly argue in favor of the endocytosis-dependent mechanism of DNA-Tat complex uptake by mammalian cells similarly to internalization of complexes of plasmid DNA with other polycationic carriers. Moreover, different cell lines use different endocytosis-mediated pathways for DNA-Tat complex internalization. Intravenous injections to mice of DNA-Tat complexes in comparison with injections of naked DNA showed an inhibitory effect of DNA-Tat complex positive charge on expression of transferred gene. A low level of foreign gene expression in the liver of mice injected intravenously with positively charged DNA-Tat complexes is accounted for by inactivation of DNA-Tat complexes in the bloodstream due to their interactions with serum albumin. These data should be taken into account in an attempt to develop versatile gene delivery systems based on penetratin application for human disease therapy.

Transcription regulatory cis-element (GCC)8 in the 5'-untranslated region of the gene for human very-low-density lipoprotein receptors

The 5'-untranslated region of very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) receptor gene includes 2 groups of triplet repeats (GCC)n. Four repeats are localized near the promoter region in position 15.23 from the transcription initiation site. Eight repeats were detected in position 573.597. Sequence (GCC)8 in VLDL receptor gene forms specific complexes with nuclear proteins of HepG2 cells, the formation of these complexes depended on Zn(2+). Superexpression of the CGGBP-20 protein interacting with long sequences (GCC)n suppressed transcriptional activity of VLDL receptor gene. Removal of fragment (397.616) containing cis-element (GCC)8 from the 5'-untranslated region of VLDL receptor gene led to activation of the linked marker gene cat in Hutu80 cells, but did not abolish the repressor effect of CGGBP-20 protein. Our results suggest that (GCC)n-binding proteins differing from CGGBP-20 regulate activity of the VLDL receptor gene via cis-element (GCC)8.

[Delivery of "suicide" thymidine kinase gene of herpes virus in the complex with cationic peptide into human hepatoma cells in vitro]

The delivery of "suicide" herpes simplex virus type-1 thymidine kinase gene (tk) into tumor cells, followed by treatment with synthetic nucleotide analogues (gancyclovir, acyclovir), is a perspective approach to cancer therapy. Serious limitations in employment of the existing means of gene delivery into target cells constitute the main obstacle for cancer gene therapy development. In the present work a possibility to use a nonviral gene delivery system is shown based on the employment of lysine rich peptide K8 and amphipathic peptide JTS-1 for transferring tk gene into human hepatoma HepG2 cells. Cationic peptide K8 forms compact complexes with plasmid DNA, and JTS-1 acts as a pH-dependent endosomal releasing agent. Transfection of HepG2 cells by tk expression vector coupled with K8/JTS-1 peptides, followed by acyclovir administration (50-100 micrograms/ml) for 24 h leads to cell cycle arrest in the G1/S checkpoint of some cells, which eventually die through apoptosis. Treatment of HepG2 cells with higher acyclovir concentration (200 micrograms/ml) additionally results in a nonspecific toxic effect. The above results demonstrate the efficacy of K8/JTS-1 delivery system for the "suicide" cancer gene therapy, and may be regarded as a basis for further elaboration of "suicide" cancer approaches in vivo.

Receptor-mediated transfer of DNA--galactosylated poly-L-lysine complexes into mammalian cells in vitro and in vivo

With the goal of developing non-viral techniques for exogenous gene delivery into mammalian cells, we have studied receptor-mediated gene transfer using complexes of plasmid DNA and galactosylated poly-L-lysine, poly(L-Lys)Gal. To evaluate the optimal parameters for efficient gene transfer into human hepatoma HepG2 cells by the DNA-poly(L-Lys)Gal complexes, the bacterial reporter genes lacZ and cat were used. Examination of the reporter gene expression level showed that the efficiency of DNA delivery into the cells depends on the structure of DNA--poly(L-Lys)Gal complexes formed at various ionic strength values. The efficiency of DNA transfer into the cells also depends on DNA/poly(L-Lys)Gal molar ratio in the complexes. Plasmid vector carrying human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) gene was injected as its complex with poly(L-Lys)Gal into rat tail vein. Some level of ApoA-I was detected in the serum of the injected rats. Also, the human apoA-I-containing plasmid was found to be captured specifically by the rat liver cells and transported into the cell nuclei, where it can persist as an episome-like structure for at least a week. After repeated injections of DNA--poly(L-Lys)Gal complexes, the level of human ApoA-I in rat serum increases, probably, due to accumulation of functional human apoA-I gene in the liver cell nuclei. The data seem to be useful for the development of non-viral approaches to gene therapy of cardiovascular diseases.

DNA-protein interactions between mammalian nuclear proteins and a GCC-element included in a composite cis-acting element of mouse ribosomal protein L32 promoter

DNA-protein complex formation between the sequence GC(GCC)4 (GCC-element) of mouse ribosomal protein L32 (rpL32) promoter and nuclear proteins of mouse and human cells has been studied using gel retardation and South-Western blotting methods. The rpL32 promoter fragment (-24.+11) was able to form specific complexes with mouse and human nuclear proteins mainly due to the presence of the GCC-element (-19.-6). DNA-protein complex patterns exhibited marked tissue-specificity. Three nuclear polypeptides of approximately 18, 28, and 50 kD that bind to the rpL32 promoter region (-24.+11) have been detected in HeLa cells by ligand blotting. At least one of them (18 kD) interacted with the GCC-element directly. The same fragment of the promoter interacted only with one nuclear polypeptide (28-31 kD) from human fibroblasts. DNA-protein complex formation between the investigated rpL32 promoter fragment containing the GCC-element and human fibroblast nuclear proteins is Zn2+-dependent. The method of functional titration (in vivo competition in the CAT-test) revealed that the GCC-element within the rpL32 promoter functions as a positive cis-acting transcriptional element in NIH 3T3 cells. Thus, our data characterize the sequence GC(GCC)4 as a functionally active cis-element included as a component in the more complex (composite) cis-element of mouse rpL32 promoter exhibiting tissue-specific properties. In various mammalian cell types the GCC-element can interact with various nuclear proteins, and the mode of these interactions can be determined by its relative position to other cis-elements in the regulatory sites of the genome.

[Study of the effect of the cDNA for the human apolipoprotein A-I gene in transgenic rabbits: modeling the neurological syndrome of human Tangier disease]

Two transgenic rabbits which carried human apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A-1) cDNA under mouse ribosomal protein L/32 promoter were obtained. The effectiveness of transgenosis was confirmed by DNA dot/blot and Southern blot hybridizations. Both transgenic animals had paralyses of fore or fore and high limbs. Electron microscopy demonstrated distinct degradative changes of those parts of spinal cord which were responsible for leg skeletal muscle innervation. RNA dot/blot hybridization showed transgene expression in liver and brain but not in kidney of adult transgenic animal. However, analysis of blood serum lipids and immunochemical determinations gave no indications of the presence of human apo A-1 in adult transgenic rabbit. The data obtained allow us to suggest that the observed pathology was due to interference of native and foreign protein products of apo A-1 gene expression in CNS in the course of embryo development. This suggestion was supported by results of in situ hybridization of 5- and 9-week human embryo sections with apo A-1 cDNA, showing effective expression of apo A-1 gene in neural cells of CNS. Results of transgenosis may be viewed as modeling of the neurological syndrome of human Tangier disease.

[The expression of the apolipoprotein A-1 gene in the early stages of human embryogenesis studied by hybridization in situ]

The apolipoprotein A-1 (apo A-1) gene expression at certain stages of human embryo development was studied using an in situ hybridization procedure. By the fifth week of development, the presence of apo A-1 mRNAs was detected in cells of different tissue types such as CNS rudiment, somite myotomes, ear vesicle, nasal placodes, lens, apical areas of the maxillary, mandibular and hyoid arcs, mesenchyme of limb buds, small intestine, mesonephros, genital ridge, and several types of blood cells. At later stages (weeks 8-9) the distribution of these mRNAs showed considerable changes. The high apo A-1 mRNA level was characteristic of liver cells, adrenals, kidney, neural tube and ganglia. These data suggest that changes in tissue-specific apo A-1 gene expression during human embryogenesis may be associated with the development of blood circulatory system and CNS.

[Representation of the leader region of Rous sarcoma virus genome RNA in double-stranded RNA produced in virus-transformed cells]

Restriction fragments of recombinant plasmids containing a proviral sequence of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV) were Southern hybridized with double-stranded (ds) RNA isolated from the cells transformed with RSV. Hybridization data show that the major subpopulation of dsRNA molecules is homologous to the 5'-end region of the viral genome including the leader sequence. We have analysed the RNAs of RSV-transformed cells by the Northern procedure hybridizing them with the proviral fragment containing double long terminal repeats. The results demonstrate that the 14-16S RNA fraction is enriched in sequences which are homologous to the proviral end regions. We consider this RNA fraction to be homologous to the 5'-terminal region of the viral genome and (or) to its antisense strand.

[Isolation of virus-specific double-stranded RNA from cells transformed with Rous sarcoma virus]

Several methods were used for isolation of double-stranded (ds) RNA from the cytoplasm of Rous sarcoma virus-transformed chick embryo cells. The dsRNA was shown to have a high melting temperature (82.5 degrees C) in 0.16 M phosphate buffer (pH 6.8), which shifted to more than 90 degrees C after RNase treatment. The size of a single strand was approximately 1300-1600 nucleotides and RNase-resistant fragments were 50-250 nucleotides long. Double-stranded RNA formed hybrids with the labeled genomic RSV RNA RNA so that the major subpopulation of the dsRNA hybridized to 6-10% of RSV RNA and the minor subpopulation -- to 90-94% of RSV RNA. It was suggested that this large subpopulation of dsRNA was abundant in sequences homologous to proviral end fragments as judged by Southern procedure. The data are discussed by considering the analogy between retroviral proviruses and mobile genetic elements.

Double-stranded RNA of homothallic Saccharomycetes with different cytoplasmic determinants of antagonistic activity

Double-stranded RNA of high molecular weight is found in the cytoplasm of the "killer" strain M-437-2. The RNA is homogeneous and contains no single strand poly(A) portions. The double-stranded RNA is associated with the cytoplasmic microsomes of strain M-437-2 and is contained in the fraction of the cell contents of this strain that was used to infect germinating spores of the sensitive S. cerevisiae 768(1)-15 with the cytoplasmic determinant [k]. The absence of this RNA in cells of the initial sensitive strain 768(1)-15, and its appearance in the "killer" derivative of this strain produced by infection with the determinant [k] by means of the above-mentioned fraction, indicate that the killer activity is due to the double-stranded RNA. The retention of the double-stranded RNA in the cytoplasm of derivatives of the newly-formed killer strain, containing the cytoplasmic determinants [k(ts)] and [n] suggests also that these determinants are a modification of determinant [k].