scholarly journals Effects of prednisolone on glomerular signal transduction cascades in experimental glomerulonephritis.

1998 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1367-1376
Author(s):  
M Seto ◽  
S Kim ◽  
H Yoshifusa ◽  
Y Nakamura ◽  
T Masuda ◽  
...  

In vitro data support that activator protein-1 (AP-1) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) regulate the gene expression of numerous growth factors and cytokines involved in the development of glomerulonephritis (GN). However, the in vivo activation and role of these transcription factors are poorly understood. This study examines whether these transcription factors are activated in antithymocyte serum (ATS)-induced GN in vivo and whether prednisolone suppresses activation of them. As assessed by gel mobility shift assay, glomerular DNA binding activity of AP-1 containing both c-Jun and c-Fos and NF-kappaB composed of P-50 and P-65 subunits was significantly increased after ATS injection. Furthermore, as estimated by in-gel kinase assay, glomerular activity of extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and c-jun NH2-terminal kinases (JNK), which are mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) known to activate AP-1 and NF-kappaB in vitro, was significantly increased after ATS injection, preceding the increase in AP-1 activity. Prednisolone treatment significantly prevented the increase in urinary protein and albumin excretion and glomerular cell proliferation in ATS-induced GN, indicating the beneficial effects of prednisolone on this GN. Prednisolone significantly suppressed the increased glomerular ERK and JNK activities and AP-1 binding activity, but not glomerular NF-kappa binding activity. This study provides the first evidence of the marked increase in glomerular MAPK activities, and AP-1 and NF-kappa binding activities in ATS-induced GN. The beneficial effect of prednisolone on this GN may be partially mediated by the suppression of MAPK, followed by the suppression of AP-1.

1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (3) ◽  
pp. L504-L511 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Jaspers ◽  
E. Flescher ◽  
L. C. Chen

Ozone, one of the most reactive oxidant gases to which humans are routinely exposed, induces inflammation in the lower airways. The airway epithelium is one of the first targets that inhaled ozone will encounter, but its role in airway inflammation is not well understood. Expression of inducible genes involved in the inflammatory response, such as interleukin (IL)-8, is controlled by transcription factors. Expression of the IL-8 gene is regulated by the transcription factors nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, NF-IL-6, and possibly activator protein-1 (AP-1). Type II-like epithelial cells (A549) were grown on a collagen-coated membrane and exposed in vitro to 0.1 ppm ozone or air. Exposure to ozone induced DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB, NF-IL-6, and AP-1. IL-8 mRNA and IL-8 protein levels were also increased after ozone exposure. These results link ozone-induced DNA-binding activity of transcription factors and the production of IL-8 by epithelial cells thus demonstrating a potential cellular cascade resulting in the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the airway lumen.


2003 ◽  
Vol 23 (12) ◽  
pp. 4257-4266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jared M. Ordway ◽  
Derek Eberhart ◽  
Tom Curran

ABSTRACT Ref-1 participates in DNA repair as well as in redox regulation of transcription factor function. The redox function of Ref-1 involves reduction of oxidized cysteine residues within the DNA binding domains of several transcription factors, including Fos and Jun. Reduction of these residues is required for DNA binding, providing a redox-dependent mechanism for regulation of target gene expression. Previous in vitro studies implicated cysteine 65 of human Ref-1 (cysteine 64 of mouse Ref-1) as the redox catalytic site. We analyzed the in vivo role of cysteine 64 in redox regulation of AP-1 activity by introducing a cysteine-to-alanine point mutation into the endogenous mouse Ref-1 gene (ref-1 C64A). Unlike Ref-1 null mice, which die very early in embryonic development, homozygous ref-1 C64A mice are viable, they survive to normal life expectancy, and they display no overt abnormal phenotype. Although Ref-1 provides the major AP-1-reducing activity in murine cells, ref-1 C64A cells retain normal levels of endogenous AP-1 DNA binding activity in vivo as well as normal Fos- and Jun-reducing activity in vitro. These results demonstrate that Ref-1 cysteine 64/65 is not required for redox regulation of AP-1 DNA binding in vivo, and they challenge previous hypotheses regarding the mechanism by which Ref-1 regulates the redox-dependent activity of specific transcription factors.


1997 ◽  
Vol 17 (9) ◽  
pp. 5386-5399 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Tran ◽  
M Merika ◽  
D Thanos

The biological activity of the transcription factor NF-kappaB is controlled mainly by the IkappaB alpha and IkappaB beta proteins, which restrict NF-kappaB to the cytoplasm and inhibit its DNA binding activity. Here, we carried out experiments to determine and compare the mechanisms by which IkappaB alpha and IkappaB beta inhibit NF-kappaB-dependent transcriptional activation. First, we found that in vivo IkappaB alpha is a stronger inhibitor of NF-kappaB than is IkappaB beta. This difference is directly correlated with their abilities to inhibit NF-kappaB binding to DNA in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, IkappaB alpha, but not IkappaB beta, can remove NF-kappaB from functional preinitiation complexes in in vitro transcription experiments. Second, we showed that both IkappaBs function in vivo not only in the cytoplasm but also in the nucleus, where they inhibit NF-kappaB binding to DNA. Third, the inhibitory activity of IkappaB beta, but not that of IkappaB alpha, is facilitated by phosphorylation of the C-terminal PEST sequence by casein kinase II and/or by the interaction of NF-kappaB with high-mobility group protein I (HMG I) on selected promoters. The unphosphorylated form of IkappaB beta forms stable ternary complexes with NF-kappaB on the DNA either in vitro or in vivo. These experiments suggest that IkappaB alpha works as a postinduction repressor of NF-kappaB independently of HMG I, whereas IkappaB beta functions preferentially in promoters regulated by the NF-kappaB/HMG I complexes.


1996 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 1342-1348 ◽  
Author(s):  
J H Caamaño ◽  
P Perez ◽  
S A Lira ◽  
R Bravo

Previous studies have indicated that Bcl-3 interacts through its ankyrin repeats with the transcriptional factors NF-kappaB1 (p50) and NF-kappaB2 (p52), affecting their biological activities. To further investigate the role of Bcl-3 in vivo and its association with the NF-kappaB proteins, we have generated transgenic mice constitutively expressing Bcl-3 in thymocytes. The results indicate that Bcl-3 is associated with endogenous p50 and p52 in nuclear extracts from transgenic animals. Remarkably, constitutive expression of Bcl-3 in these cells augments the DNA binding activity of p52 homodimers. This effect could be reproduced in vitro and is blocked by anti-Bcl-3 antibodies. We have also shown that Bcl-3 is phosphorylated in thymocytes and that its dephosphorylation greatly decreases the effect on p50 homodimers.


Genetics ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 142 (3) ◽  
pp. 661-672 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jodi L Vogel ◽  
Vincent Geuskens ◽  
Lucie Desmet ◽  
N Patrick Higgins ◽  
Ariane Toussaint

Abstract Mutations in an N-terminal 70-amino acid domain of bacteriophage Mu's repressor cause temperature-sensitive DNA-binding activity. Surprisingly, amber mutations can conditionally correct the heat-sensitive defect in three mutant forms of the repressor gene, cts25 (D43-G), cts62 (R47-Q and cts71 (M28-I), and in the appropriate bacterial host produce a heat-stable Sts phenotype (for survival of temperature shifts). Sts repressor mutants are heat sensitive when in supE or supF hosts and heat resistant when in Sup° hosts. Mutants with an Sts phenotype have amber mutations at one of three codons, Q179, Q187, or Q190. The Sts phenotype relates to the repressor size: in Sup° hosts sts repressors are shorter by seven, 10, or 18 amino acids compared to repressors in supE or supF hosts. The truncated form of the sts62-1 repressor, which lacks 18 residues (Q179–V196), binds Mu operator DNA more stably at 42° in vitro compared to its full-length counterpart (cts62 repressor). In addition to influencing temperature sensitivity, the C-terminus appears to control the susceptibility to in vivo Clp proteolysis by influencing the multimeric structure of repressor.


Blood ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 112 (4) ◽  
pp. 1056-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mira T. Kassouf ◽  
Hedia Chagraoui ◽  
Paresh Vyas ◽  
Catherine Porcher

Abstract Dissecting the molecular mechanisms used by developmental regulators is essential to understand tissue specification/differentiation. SCL/TAL-1 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor absolutely critical for hematopoietic stem/progenitor cell specification and lineage maturation. Using in vitro and forced expression experimental systems, we previously suggested that SCL might have DNA-binding–independent functions. Here, to assess the requirements for SCL DNA-binding activity in vivo, we examined hematopoietic development in mice carrying a germline DNA-binding mutation. Remarkably, in contrast to complete absence of hematopoiesis and early lethality in scl-null embryos, specification of hematopoietic cells occurred in homozygous mutant embryos, indicating that direct DNA binding is dispensable for this process. Lethality was forestalled to later in development, although some mice survived to adulthood. Anemia was documented throughout development and in adulthood. Cellular and molecular studies showed requirements for SCL direct DNA binding in red cell maturation and indicated that scl expression is positively autoregulated in terminally differentiating erythroid cells. Thus, different mechanisms of SCL's action predominate depending on the developmental/cellular context: indirect DNA binding activities and/or sequestration of other nuclear regulators are sufficient in specification processes, whereas direct DNA binding functions with transcriptional autoregulation are critically required in terminal maturation processes.


Development ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 113 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-255 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Van Doren ◽  
H.M. Ellis ◽  
J.W. Posakony

In Drosophila, a group of regulatory proteins of the helix-loop-helix (HLH) class play an essential role in conferring upon cells in the developing adult epidermis the competence to give rise to sensory organs. Proteins encoded by the daughterless (da) gene and three genes of the achaete-scute complex (AS-C) act positively in the determination of the sensory organ precursor cell fate, while the extramacrochaetae (emc) and hairy (h) gene products act as negative regulators. In the region upstream of the achaete gene of the AS-C, we have identified three ‘E box’ consensus sequences that are bound specifically in vitro by hetero-oligomeric complexes consisting of the da protein and an AS-C protein. We have used this DNA-binding activity to investigate the biochemical basis of the negative regulatory function of emc. Under the conditions of our experiments, the emc protein, but not the h protein, is able to antagonize specifically the in vitro DNA-binding activity of da/AS-C and putative da/da protein complexes. We interpret these results as follows: the heterodimerization capacity of the emc protein (conferred by its HLH domain) allows it to act in vivo as a competitive inhibitor of the formation of functional DNA-binding protein complexes by the da and AS-C proteins, thereby reducing the effective level of their transcriptional regulatory activity within the cell.


1989 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 2464-2476
Author(s):  
M Cockell ◽  
B J Stevenson ◽  
M Strubin ◽  
O Hagenbüchle ◽  
P K Wellauer

Footprint analysis of the 5'-flanking regions of the alpha-amylase 2, elastase 2, and trypsina genes, which are expressed in the acinar pancreas, showed multiple sites of protein-DNA interaction for each gene. Competition experiments demonstrated that a region from each 5'-flanking region interacted with the same cell-specific DNA-binding activity. We show by in vitro binding assays that this DNA-binding activity also recognizes a sequence within the 5'-flanking regions of elastase 1, chymotrypsinogen B, carboxypeptidase A, and trypsind genes. Methylation interference and protection studies showed that the DNA-binding activity recognized a bipartite motif, the subelements of which were separated by integral helical turns of DNA. The alpha-amylase 2 cognate sequence was found to enhance in vivo transcription of its own promoter in a cell-specific manner, which identified the DNA-binding activity as a transcription factor (PTF 1). The observation that PTF 1 bound to DNA sequences that have been defined as transcriptional enhancers by others suggests that this factor is involved in the coordinate expression of genes transcribed in the acinar pancreas.


1992 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 4104-4111
Author(s):  
L Sistonen ◽  
K D Sarge ◽  
B Phillips ◽  
K Abravaya ◽  
R I Morimoto

Hemin induces nonterminal differentiation of human K562 erythroleukemia cells, which is accompanied by the expression of certain erythroid cell-specific genes, such as the embryonic and fetal globins, and elevated expression of the stress genes hsp70, hsp90, and grp78/BiP. Previous studies revealed that, as during heat shock, transcriptional induction of hsp70 in hemin-treated cells is mediated by activation of heat shock transcription factor (HSF), which binds to the heat shock element (HSE). We report here that hemin activates the DNA-binding activity of HSF2, whereas heat shock induces predominantly the DNA-binding activity of a distinct factor, HSF1. This constitutes the first example of HSF2 activation in vivo. Both hemin and heat shock treatments resulted in equivalent levels of HSF-HSE complexes as analyzed in vitro by gel mobility shift assay, yet transcription of the hsp70 gene was stimulated much less by hemin-induced HSF than by heat shock-induced HSF. Genomic footprinting experiments revealed that hemin-induced HSF and heat shock-induced HSF, HSF2, and HSF1, respectively, occupy the HSE of the human hsp70 promoter in a similar yet not identical manner. We speculate that the difference in occupancy and/or in the transcriptional abilities of HSF1 and HSF2 accounts for the observed differences in the stimulation of hsp70 gene transcription.


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