Cross-talk between wound signalling pathways determines local versus systemic gene expression in Arabidopsis thaliana

The cross-talk in vivo between two signalling pathways activated by testosterone via intracellular androgen receptor, and induced by damage to renal tubules evoked by anti-folate [N10-propargyl-5,8-dideazafolic acid (CB 3717)] or folate is reported. We show that CB 3717/folate induces the expression of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-Met signalling system in injured kidneys in which a significant, but transient, elevation of the HGF mRNA level occurs. It is followed by a severalfold increase in the c-Met transmembrane receptor message that persists for up to 24h. The c-Met expression is also positively controlled by testosterone, which induces a significant increase in its mRNA level that is abolished by an anti-androgen, casodex. However, when testosterone and anti-folate/folate are administered sequentially, a substantial (3.5Ő4.0-fold) decrease in the increase of c-Met expression caused by CB 3717/folate alone occurs. Similarly, testosterone-induced ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) mRNA level and activity are decreased 2.8Ő7.7-fold when the androgen is applied together with CB 3717. Antagonism between these pathways is also visible under physiological conditions in the kidneys of male mice in which, owing to elevated endogenous testosterone levels, neither the ODC activity nor the mRNA level is induced by anti-folate/folate, whereas the c-Met message response to these drugs is significantly decreased. Our results document a substantial negative regulation of c-Met and ODC gene expression as a result of the cross-talk between testosterone-activated and HGF-activated pathways and suggest a sex-differentiated response to injury of mouse kidneys.

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A conditionally fertile coi1 allele indicates cross-talk between plant hormone signalling pathways in Arabidopsis thaliana seeds and young seedlings

Planta ◽

10.1007/s00425-002-0787-4 ◽

2002 ◽

Vol 215 (4) ◽

pp. 549-556 ◽

Cited By ~ 104

Author(s):

Christine Ellis ◽

John Turner

Keyword(s):

Arabidopsis Thaliana ◽

Cross Talk ◽

Plant Hormone ◽

Signalling Pathways ◽

Hormone Signalling

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Nutrient-regulated gene expression in eukaryotes

Biochemical Society Symposium ◽

10.1042/bss0730085 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 73 ◽

pp. 85-96 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Richard J. Reece ◽

Laila Beynon ◽

Stacey Holden ◽

Amanda D. Hughes ◽

Karine Rébora ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Rna Polymerase ◽

Rna Polymerase Ii ◽

Transcriptional Control ◽

Direct Interaction ◽

Signalling Pathways ◽

A Cell ◽

One Step ◽

Higher Eukaryotes ◽

Regulated Gene Expression

The recognition of changes in environmental conditions, and the ability to adapt to these changes, is essential for the viability of cells. There are numerous well characterized systems by which the presence or absence of an individual metabolite may be recognized by a cell. However, the recognition of a metabolite is just one step in a process that often results in changes in the expression of whole sets of genes required to respond to that metabolite. In higher eukaryotes, the signalling pathway between metabolite recognition and transcriptional control can be complex. Recent evidence from the relatively simple eukaryote yeast suggests that complex signalling pathways may be circumvented through the direct interaction between individual metabolites and regulators of RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription. Biochemical and structural analyses are beginning to unravel these elegant genetic control elements.

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MOLECULAR CONTROL OF ARTICULAR CARTILAGE DEGENERATION BY TRANSFORMING GROWTH FACTOR ALPHA

Clinical & Investigative Medicine ◽

10.25011/cim.v31i4.4787 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 2

Author(s):

Tom Appleton ◽

Shirine Usmani ◽

John Mort ◽

Frank Beier

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Articular Cartilage ◽

Growth Factor ◽

P38 Mapk ◽

Transforming Growth Factor ◽

Cartilage Degeneration ◽

Signalling Pathways ◽

Transforming Growth Factor Alpha ◽

Factor Alpha ◽

Articular Cartilage Degeneration

Background: Articular cartilage degeneration is a hallmark of osteoarthritis (OA). We previously identified increased expression of transforming growth factor alpha (TGF?) and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) in articular cartilage from a rat modelof OA (1,2). We subsequently reported that TGF? signalling modified chondrocyte cytoskeletal organization, increased catabolic and decreased anabolic gene expression and suppressed Sox9. Due to other roles in chondrocytes, we hypothesized that the effects ofTGF? on chondrocytes are mediated by Rho/ROCK and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. Methods: Primary cultures of chondrocytes and articularosteochondral explants were treated with pharmacological inhibitors of MEK1/2(U0126), ROCK (Y27632), Rho (C3), p38 MAPK (SB202190) and PI3K (LY294002) to elucidate pathway involvement. Results: Using G-LISA we determined that stimulation of primary chondrocytes with TGF? activates RhoA. Reciprocally, inhibition of RhoA/ROCK but not other signalling pathways prevents modification of the actin cytoskeleton in responseto TGF?. Inhibition of MEK/ERKsignaling rescued suppression of anabolic gene expression by TGF? including SOX9 mRNA and protein levels. Inhibition of MEK/ERK, Rho/ROCK, p38 MAPK and PI3K signalling pathways differentially controlled the induction of MMP13 and TNF? gene expression. TGF? also induced expression of CCL2 specifically through MEK/ERK activation. In turn, CCL2 treatment induced the expression of MMP3 and TNF?. Finally, we assessed cartilage degradation by immunohistochemical detection of type II collagen cleavage fragments generated by MMPs. Blockade of RhoA/ROCK and MEK/ERK signalling pathways reduced the generation of type IIcollagen cleavage fragments in response to TGF? stimulation. Conclusions: Rho/ROCK signalling mediates TGF?-induced changes inchondrocyte morphology, while MEK/ERK signalling mediates the suppression ofSox9 and its target genes, and CCL2 expression. CCL2, in turn, induces the expression of MMP3 and TNF?, two potent catabolic factors known to be involved in OA. These pathways may represent strategic targets for interventional approaches to treating cartilage degeneration in osteoarthritis. References: 1. Appleton CTG et al. Arthritis Rheum 2007;56:1854-68. 2. Appleton CTG et al. Arthritis Rheum 2007; 56:3693-705.

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