Evaluation of the lipopolysaccharide-induced transcription of the human TREM-1 gene in vitamin D3-matured THP-1 macrophage-like cells

Abstract

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) plays a role in inflammation by augmenting inflammatory responses through the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. TREM-1 is expressed in mature macrophages, and is upregulated by stimulation with bacterial components, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In the present study, the regulatory mechanisms responsible for the transcription of the human TREM-1 gene were examined using a human monocytic cell line (THP-1 cells). Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) revealed that TREM-1 mRNA was constitutively expressed at a low level in resting cells, and that its expression was upregulated by treatment with vitamin D3 (VitD3), but not by LPS. Importantly, TREM-1 mRNA expression was further upregulated by stimulation of the VitD3‑treated THP-1 cells with LPS. In addition, a luciferase reporter assay revealed that the serum response element (SRE) was involved in VitD3-induced promoter activity, whereas the activator protein-1 (AP-1) sites participated in the VitD3- and LPS-induced promoter activity. Of note, the CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) site contributed not only to basal, but also to VitD3- and LPS-induced promoter activity. Transfection with transcription factor oligodeoxynucleotide (ODN) decoys indicated that transcription factors of the C/EBP and AP-1 families are likely involved in the basal, as well as in the VitD3- and LPS-induced TREM-1 transcription. Western blot analysis indicated that, of the members of the C/EBP family, C/EBPα was constitutively expressed in resting cells; its expression was enhanced by treatment with VitD3 and was further increased by treatment with VitD3 and LPS. Moreover, the expression of c-Fos and c-Jun (members of the AP-1 family) was augmented by treatment with both VitD3 and LPS. These observations indicate that members of the C/EBP family participate not only in basal, but also in the VitD3- and LPS-induced promoter activity of the human TREM-1 gene, and that members of the AP-1 family are involved in the VitD3- and LPS-induced promoter activity.