High mobility group box-1 protein plays an important role in transcription and expression of interleukin-2 mediated by nuclear factor of activated T cells-2

Abstract

Obejective To investigate the potential role of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) in transcription and expression of interleukin (IL)-2 mediated by nuclear factor of activating T cells 2 (NFAT2). Method Firstly, HMGB1 and NFAT2 plasmids were transfected into Hela cells. Doses of HMGB1 plasmid in-creased from 0 to 0.4μg/plate steadily and reporter gene activity of IL-2 was detected and compared. Secondly, endogenous HMGB1 in Hela cells or exogenous HMGB1 in 293T cells was inhibited respectively by sRNAi. Doses of sRNAi for HMGB1 was arisen from 0 to 1.2μg,/plate steadily and reporter gene activity of IL-2 was detected and compared. Results Reporter gene activity of IL-2 increased by 2.12-fold induced by increasing transfection-dose of HMGB1 plasmid in Hela cells (P < 0.01). However, reporter gene activity of IL-2 decreased by 1.7-fold and 4.76-fold repectively due to specific inhibition of exogenous HMGB1 in 293T ceils and endogenous HMGB1 in Hela cells by increasing dose of sRNAi plasmid (P < 0.05 or P < 0.01). Conclusions HMGB1 plays an im-portant role in transcription and expression of IL-2 mediated by NFAT2. Key words: High mobility group box-1 protein; Nuclear factor of activated T cell; Interleukin-2; Cytokine; Small RNA interference; Signal transduction; Gene expression; Immune