Transcriptional induction of rat mineralocorticoid receptor gene in neurones by corticosteroids

1995 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Castrén ◽  
T Trapp ◽  
B Berninger ◽  
E Castrén ◽  
F Holsboer

ABSTRACT We investigated the mechanisms by which corticosteroids regulate the expression of the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) in neurones. Aldosterone and dexamethasone produced a dose-dependent increase of MR mRNA levels in cultured primary hippocampal neurones. Transient transfection of neuroblastoma cells showed that corticosteroids directly activate the rat MR promoter, indicating that the steroid-induced increase in the MR mRNA concentration is at least partially transcriptional. Progressive 5′ deletions of the MR promoter sequence revealed that the promoter induction cannot be assigned to a single element. An oligonucleotide comprising a consensus half-glucocorticoid responsive element located at – 319 bp in the MR promoter stimulated the corticosteroid-induced activation of the heterologous promoter. Cloning three of these enhancers in tandem greatly potentiated the responses to glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids, suggesting that although this element is a weak enhancer it can, in combination with other enhancer elements, induce MR gene expression by both types of corticosteroid receptors.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (12) ◽  
pp. 6197
Author(s):  
Paola Brivio ◽  
Giulia Sbrini ◽  
Letizia Tarantini ◽  
Chiara Parravicini ◽  
Piotr Gruca ◽  
...  

Epigenetics is one of the mechanisms by which environmental factors can alter brain function and may contribute to central nervous system disorders. Alterations of DNA methylation and miRNA expression can induce long-lasting changes in neurobiological processes. Hence, we investigated the effect of chronic stress, by employing the chronic mild stress (CMS) and the chronic restraint stress protocol, in adult male rats, on the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) function. We focused on DNA methylation specifically in the proximity of the glucocorticoid responsive element (GRE) of the GR responsive genes Gadd45β, Sgk1, and Gilz and on selected miRNA targeting these genes. Moreover, we assessed the role of the antipsychotic lurasidone in modulating these alterations. Chronic stress downregulated Gadd45β and Gilz gene expression and lurasidone normalized the Gadd45β modification. At the epigenetic level, CMS induced hypermethylation of the GRE of Gadd45β gene, an effect prevented by lurasidone treatment. These stress-induced alterations were still present even after a period of rest from stress, indicating the enduring nature of such changes. However, the contribution of miRNA to the alterations in gene expression was moderate in our experimental conditions. Our results demonstrated that chronic stress mainly affects Gadd45β expression and methylation, effects that are prolonged over time, suggesting that stress leads to changes in DNA methylation that last also after the cessation of stress procedure, and that lurasidone is a modifier of such mechanisms.


10.1038/966 ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
David S. Geller ◽  
Juan Rodriguez-Soriano ◽  
Alfredo V. Boado ◽  
Søren Schifter ◽  
Milan Bayer ◽  
...  

Endocrinology ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 140 (5) ◽  
pp. 2110-2116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roni Mamluk ◽  
Nitzan Levy ◽  
Bo Rueda ◽  
John S. Davis ◽  
Rina Meidan

Abstract Our previous studies demonstrated that endothelin-1 (ET-1), a 21-amino acid vasoconstrictor peptide, has a paracrine regulatory role in bovine corpus luteum (CL). The peptide is produced within the gland where it inhibits progesterone production by acting via the selective type A endothelin (ETA) receptors. The present study was designed to characterize ETA receptor gene expression in different ovarian cell types and its hormonal regulation. ETA receptor messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were high in follicular cells as well as in CL during luteal regression. At this latter stage, high ETA receptor expression concurred with low prostaglandin F2α receptor mRNA. The ETA receptor gene was expressed by all three major cell populations of the bovine CL; i.e. small and large luteal cells, as well as in luteal endothelial cells. Among these various cell populations, the highest ETA receptor mRNA levels were found in endothelial cells. cAMP elevating agents, forskolin and LH, suppressed ETA receptor mRNA expression in luteinized theca cells (LTC). This inhibition was dose dependent and was evident already after 24 h of incubation. In luteinized granulosa cells (LGC), 10 and 100 ng/ml of insulin-like growth factor I and insulin (only at a concentration of 2000 ng/ml) markedly decreased ETA receptor mRNA levels. In both LGC and LTC there was an inverse relationship between ETA receptor gene expression and progesterone production; insulin (in LGC) and forskolin (in LTC) enhanced progesterone production while inhibiting ETA receptor mRNA levels. Our findings may therefore suggest that, during early stages of luteinization when peak levels of both LH and insulin-like growth factor I exist, the expression of ETA receptors in the gland are suppressed. This study demonstrates physiologically relevant regulatory mechanisms controlling ETA receptor gene expression and further supports the inhibitory role of ET-1 in CL function.


2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (3) ◽  
pp. R1025-R1034 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuwaraj K. Narnaware ◽  
Pierre P. Peyon ◽  
Xinwei Lin ◽  
Richard E. Peter

In mammals, neuropeptide Y (NPY) is a potent orexigenic factor. In the present study, third brain ventricle (intracerebroventricular) injection of goldfish NPY (gNPY) caused a dose-dependent increase in food intake in goldfish, and intracerebroventricular administration of NPY Y1-receptor antagonist BIBP-3226 decreased food intake; the actions of gNPY were blocked by simultaneous injection of BIBP-3226. Goldfish maintained on a daily scheduled feeding regimen display an increase in NPY mRNA levels in the telencephalon-preoptic area and hypothalamus shortly before feeding; however, a decrease occured in optic tectum-thalamus. In both fed and unfed fish, brain NPY mRNA levels decreased after scheduled feeding. Restriction in daily food ration intake for 1 wk or food deprivation for 72 h resulted in increased brain NPY mRNA levels. Results from these studies demonstrate that NPY is a physiological brain signal involved in feeding behavior in goldfish, mediating its effects, at least in part, through Y1-like receptors in the brain.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 2941-2948
Author(s):  
A Lombardo ◽  
G P Cereghino ◽  
I E Scheffler

We have examined the expression of the gene encoding the iron-protein subunit (Ip) of succinate dehydrogenase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The gene had been cloned by us and shown to be subject to glucose regulation (A. Lombardo, K. Carine, and I. E. Scheffler, J. Biol. Chem. 265:10419-10423, 1990). We discovered that a significant part of the regulation of the Ip mRNA levels by glucose involves the regulation of the turnover rate of this mRNA. In the presence of glucose, the half-life appears to be less than 5 min, while in glycerol medium, the half-life is greater than 60 min. The gene is also regulated transcriptionally by glucose. The upstream promoter sequence appeared to have four regulatory elements with consensus sequences shown to be responsible for the interaction with the HAP2/3/4 regulatory complex. A deletion analysis has shown that the two distal elements are redundant. These measurements were carried out by Northern (RNA) analyses of Ip mRNA transcripts as well as by assays of beta-galactosidase activity in cells carrying constructs of the Ip promoter linked to the lacZ coding sequence. These observations on the regulation of mRNA stability were also extended to the mRNA of the flavoprotein subunit of succinate dehydrogenase and in some experiments of iso-1-cytochrome c.


Hypertension ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 70 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonatan Barrera-Chimal ◽  
Sebastian M Lechner ◽  
Soumaya E Moghrabi ◽  
Peter Kolkhof ◽  
Frédéric Jaisser

Introduction: Patients who survive an episode of acute kidney injury (AKI) are at high risk of de novo chronic kidney disease (CKD) development. Pharmacological mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) antagonism is useful to prevent CKD after a single episode of ischemic AKI in the rat. Objective: Test the involvement of myeloid MR in the development of kidney fibrosis after an ischemic AKI episode. Methods: We included 18 male C57/B6 mice that were divided in: sham, renal ischemia for 22.5 min and IR plus treatment with the non-steroidal MR antagonist finerenone (10 mg/kg) at -48, -24 and -1 h before IR. MR inactivation in myeloid cells (MR MyKO ) was achieved by crossing mice with the MR alleles flanked by loxP sites (MR f/f ) with mice expressing the Cre recombinase under the LysM promoter activity. In MR f/f and MR MyKO mice we induced renal IR of 22.5 min or sham surgery. The mice were followed-up during 4 weeks to test for AKI to CKD transition. In another set of mice, the macrophages were sorted from kidneys after 24 h of reperfusion and flow cytometry characterization or mRNA extraction was performed. Thyoglycolate elicited peritoneal macrophages were used for in vitro studies. Results: The progression of AKI to CKD after 4 weeks of renal ischemia in the untreated C57/B6 and MR f/f mice was characterized by a 50% increase in plasma creatinine, a 2-fold increase in the mRNA levels of TGF-β and fibronectin as well as by severe tubule-interstitial fibrosis. The mice that received finerenone or MR MyKO mice were protected against these alterations. Increased expression of M2-anti-inflamatory markers in kidney-isolated macrophages from finerenone-treated or MR MyKO mice was observed. The inflammatory population of Ly6C high macrophages was reduced by 50%. In peritoneal macrophages in culture, MR inhibition promoted increased IL-4 receptor expression and activation, facilitating macrophage polarization to an M2 phenotype. Conclusion: MR antagonism or myeloid MR deficiency facilitates macrophage polarization to a M2, anti-inflammatory phenotype after kidney IR, preventing maladaptive repair and chronic kidney fibrosis and dysfunction. MR inhibition acts through the modulation of IL-4 receptor signaling to facilitate macrophage phenotype switching.


2019 ◽  
Vol 316 (1) ◽  
pp. L94-L104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shama Ahmad ◽  
Iram Zafar ◽  
Nithya Mariappan ◽  
Maroof Husain ◽  
Chih-Chang Wei ◽  
...  

Nicotine is a highly addictive principal component of both tobacco and electronic cigarette that is readily absorbed in blood. Nicotine-containing electronic cigarettes are promoted as a safe alternative to cigarette smoking. However, the isolated effects of inhaled nicotine are largely unknown. Here we report a novel rat model of aerosolized nicotine with a particle size (~1 μm) in the respirable diameter range. Acute nicotine inhalation caused increased pulmonary edema and lung injury as measured by enhanced bronchoalveolar lavage fluid protein, IgM, lung wet-to-dry weight ratio, and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein and decreased lung E-cadherin protein. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed congested blood vessels and increased neutrophil infiltration. Lung myeloperoxidase mRNA and protein increased in the nicotine-exposed rats. Complete blood counts also showed an increase in neutrophils, white blood cells, eosinophils, and basophils. Arterial blood gas measurements showed an increase in lactate. Lungs of nicotine-inhaling animals revealed increased mRNA levels of IL-1A and CXCL1. There was also an increase in IL-1α protein. In in vitro air-liquid interface cultures of airway epithelial cells, there was a dose dependent increase in HMGB1 release with nicotine treatment. Air-liquid cultures exposed to nicotine also resulted in a dose-dependent loss of barrier as measured by transepithelial electrical resistance and a decrease in E-cadherin expression. Nicotine also caused a dose-dependent increase in epithelial cell death and an increase in caspase-3/7 activities. These results show that the nicotine content of electronic cigarettes may have adverse pulmonary and systemic effects.


2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S19-S19
Author(s):  
V. O’Keane ◽  
C. Farrell ◽  
K. Doolin ◽  
J. Chai ◽  
N. O’leary ◽  
...  

BackgroundExposure to early life adversity (ELA) has been identified as a major risk factor in the development of major depressive disorder (MDD). It is hypothesized that a mediating mechanism may be environmentally induced alterations in gene function. In our REDEEM (Research in depression: endocrinology, epigenetics and neuroimaging) project we are examining possible epigenetic difference in some previously investigated target genes relevant to depression. To this end, methylation of the following genes were measured: NR3C1 (HPA axis), SLC6A4 (serotonin neurotransmitter function), and CD3ɛ (T cell receptor gene). We also looked at possible trans-generational transmission of epigenetic markers in a mother-baby sample.MethodsDNA was isolated from depressed patients and controls and babies and a portion of the above genes, encompassing our regions of interest, were amplified by PCR. Percentage methylation levels were measured by pyrosequencing. mRNA was also measured for some gene products to see if function was related to methylation. HPA axis function was measured with serial saliva samples throughout the day.Resultsto date: Methylation was increased in the CD3ɛ promoter in depressed subjects relative to controls. In the total group, those exposed to ELA had significantly increased methylation at this site. Levels of CD3ɛ mRNA levels were inversely related to methylation. There were some relationships between maternal ELA and baby methylation at the sites examined.ConclusionsConsistent with an allostatic model of ELA damage, our findings suggest an alteration in epigenetic function in acquired immunity and the HPA axis, mediated by ELA. Findings will be discussed.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.


Endocrinology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 160 (9) ◽  
pp. 2101-2114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qing Lu ◽  
Ana P Davel ◽  
Adam P McGraw ◽  
Sitara P Rao ◽  
Brenna G Newfell ◽  
...  

Abstract Angiotensin II (AngII) and the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) ligand aldosterone both contribute to cardiovascular disorders, including hypertension and adverse vascular remodeling. We previously demonstrated that AngII activates MR-mediated gene transcription in human vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs), yet the mechanism and the impact on SMC function are unknown. Using an MR-responsive element-driven transcriptional reporter assay, we confirm that AngII induces MR transcriptional activity in vascular SMCs and endothelial cells, but not in Cos1 or human embryonic kidney-293 cells. AngII activation of MR was blocked by the MR antagonist spironolactone or eplerenone and the protein kinase C-δ (PKCδ) inhibitor rottlerin, implicating both in the mechanism. Similarly, small interfering RNA knockdown of PKCδ in SMCs prevented AngII-mediated MR activation, whereas knocking down of MR blocked both aldosterone- and AngII-induced MR function. Coimmunoprecipitation studies reveal that endogenous MR and PKCδ form a complex in SMCs that is enhanced by AngII treatment in association with increased serine phosphorylation of the MR N terminus. AngII increased mRNA expression of the SMC-MR target gene, FKBP51, via an MR-responsive element in intron 5 of the FKBP51 gene. The impact of AngII on FKBP51 reporter activity and gene expression in SMCs was inhibited by spironolactone and rottlerin. Finally, the AngII-induced increase in SMC number was also blocked by the MR antagonist spironolactone and the PKCδ inhibitor rottlerin. These data demonstrate that AngII activates MR transcriptional regulatory activity, target gene regulation, and SMC proliferation in a PKCδ-dependent manner. This new mechanism may contribute to synergy between MR and AngII in driving SMC dysfunction and to the cardiovascular benefits of MR and AngII receptor blockade in humans.


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