Induction Of Luciferase Activity Research Articles

Molecular mechanisms for the growth factor action of gastrin.

We have previously observed that gastrin has a cholecystokinin B (CCK-B) receptor-mediated growth-promoting effect on the AR42J rat pancreatic acinar cell line and that this effect is paralleled by induction of expression of the early response gene c-fos. We undertook these experiments to elucidate the mechanism for induction of c-fos and the linkage of this action to the trophic effects of gastrin. Gastrin (0.1-10 nM) dose dependently induced luciferase activity in AR42J cells transfected with a construct consisting of a luciferase reporter gene coupled to the serum response element (SRE) of the c-fos promoter. This effect was blocked by the specific CCK-B receptor antagonist D2 but not by the specific CCK-A receptor antagonist L-364,718 or by pertussis toxin, indicating that gastrin targets the SRE via specific CCK-B receptors through a mechanism independent of Gi. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) either by prolonged (24 h) exposure of the cells to the phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (100 nM) or by incubation with the selective inhibitor GF-109203X (3.5 microM) resulted in an 80% reduction in luciferase activity. Similar results were observed in the presence of the specific extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD-98059 (50 microM). We measured ERK2 activity in AR42J cells via in-gel kinase assays and observed that gastrin (1 pM-100 nM) induced ERK2 enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Addition of GF-109203X and PD-98059, either alone or in combination, produced, respectively, partial and total inhibition of gastrin-induced ERK2 activity. Gastrin induction of ERK2 activity also resulted in a threefold increase in the transcriptional activity of Elk-1, a factor known to bind to the c-fos SRE and to be phosphorylated and activated by ERK2. PD-98059 blocked the growth-promoting effect of gastrin on the AR42J cells, demonstrating that this effect depends on activation of MEK. Our data lead us to conclude that the trophic actions of gastrin are mediated by ERK2-induced c-fos gene expression via PKC-dependent and -independent pathways.

Hydroxylated Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) as Estrogens and Antiestrogens: Structure–Activity Relationships

The effects of structure on the estrogenicity and antiestrogenicity of hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls were investigated using the following estrogen-sensitive assays: competitive binding to the rat and mouse cytosolic estrogen receptor (ER); immature rat and mouse uterine wet weight, peroxidase and progesterone receptor (PR) levels; induction of luciferase activity in HeLa cells stably transfected with a Gal4:human ER chimera and a 17mer-regulated luciferase reporter gene; proliferation of MCF-7 human breast cancer cells; induction of chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) activity in MCF-7 cells transiently transfected with a full-length human ER expression plasmid and a plasmid containing an estrogen-responsive vitellogenin A2 promoter linked to a CAT reporter gene. The chemicals synthesized for this study contained a 4-hydroxy group in one ring, a 2- or 3-chloro substituentmetaororthoto the hydroxyl group, and variable substitution (2′,3′,4′,5′-, 2′,3′,4′,6′-, 2′,3′,5′,6′-tetrachloro and 2′,4′,6′-trichloro) in the chlorophenyl ring. The compounds included: 2,2′,3′,4′,5′- (A), 2,2′,3′,4′,6′- (B), and 2,2′,3′,5′,6′-pentachloro- (C); 2,2′,4′,6′-tetrachloro-4-biphenylol (D); 2′,3,3′,4′,5′- (E), 2′,3,3′,4′,6′- (F), and 2′,3,3′,5′,6′-pentachloro (G); and 2′,3,4′,6′-tetrachloro-4-biphenylol (H). With the exception of 2′,3,4′,6′-tetrachloro-4-biphenylol (H), all of the compounds competitively bound to the mouse and rat ER with relative binding affinities [compared to 17β-estradiol (E2)] varying from 1.4 × 10−3to 5.3 × 10−5. The structure–ER binding relationships for the hydroxy-PCB congeners were different in the rat and mouse, and no dose-dependent estrogenic activities were observed in the mouse or rat uterus. Several hydroxy-PCB congeners exhibited antiestrogenic activity (primarily in the mouse uterus) and two compounds, 2,2′,3′,5′,6- and 2,2′,3′,4′,6′-pentachloro-4-biphenylol, inhibited E2-induced uterine wet weight, PR binding, and peroxidase activity in the mouse uterus. 2,2′,3′,4′,5′- and 2,2′,3′,4′,6′-Pentachloro-4-biphenylol induced CAT activity in MCF-7 cells transiently transfected with the Vit-CAT plasmid; the remaining congeners did not induce CAT activity but exhibited antiestrogenic activity in MCF-7 cells cotreated with 10−9E2 plus 10−5mhydroxy-PCBs. Complementary structure–estrogenicity relationships were observed utilizing the HeLa cell luciferase induction and MCF-7 cell proliferation assays. The placement of the 2- or 3-chloro groups in the phenolic ring had minimal effects on estrogenic activity, whereas 2,4,6-trichloro- and 2,3,4,6-tetrachloro substitution in the chlorophenyl ring (B, D, F, and H) were required for this response. Substitution in the phenolic ring was also not important for structure–antiestrogenicity relationships, and the most active compounds (A, C, E, and G) contained 2′,3′,4′,5′- and 2′,3′,5′,6′-tetrachlorophenyl groups. Thus, structure–estrogenicity/antiestrogenicity relationships for this series of hydroxy-PCBs were complex and response-specific.

Regulation of Human Apolipoprotein A-I Gene Expression by Gramoxone

To induce oxidative stress, HepG2 cells were exposed to a compound known as gramoxone. This compound undergoes a one-electron reduction to form a stable free radical which is capable of generating reactive oxygen species. We demonstrated that exposure of HepG2 cells to gramoxone (0.1 microM) resulted in a 2-fold decrease in apoA-I mRNA with no significant change in apoB and apoE mRNA levels. To examine if increased rates of mRNA degradation were responsible for the reduction in apoA-I mRNA levels, mRNA half-lives were measured in the presence of actinomycin D with and without gramoxone treatment. These studies revealed a 4-fold increase in the rate of apoA-I mRNA degradation in cells exposed to gramoxone. In similarly treated cells, nuclear run-off assays indicated that the transcription rate of the apoA-I gene was also increased 2-fold. Consistent with nuclear run-off assays, transient transfection experiments using a series of pGL2-derived luciferase reporter plasmids containing the human apoAI proximal promoter demonstrated that gramoxone treatment increased apoA-I promoter activity 2-fold. We have identified a potential "antioxidant response element" (ARE) in the apoA-I promoter region that may be responsible for the increase in apoA-I transcriptional activity by gramoxone. Gel mobility shift assays with an ARE oligonucleotide revealed increased levels of a specific protein-DNA complex that formed with nuclear extracts from gramoxone-treated cells. UV cross-linking experiments with the ARE and nuclear extracts from either untreated or gramoxone-treated cells detected proteins of approximately 100 and 115 kDa. When a single copy of the ARE was inserted upstream of the SV40 promoter in a luciferase reporter plasmid, a significant 2-fold induction in luciferase activity was observed in HepG2 cells in the presence of gramoxone. In contrast, a plasmid containing a mutant apoAI-ARE did not confer responsiveness to gramoxone. Furthermore, pGL2 (apoAI-250 mutant ARE), in which point mutations eliminated the ARE in the apoAI promoter, showed no increase in luciferase activity in response to gramoxone. Taken together, the data suggest that gramoxone affects apoA-I mRNA levels by both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms.

A glucocorticoid-mediated transcriptional induction system in transgenic plants.

A novel chemical induction system for transcription in plants has been developed, taking advantage of the regulatory mechanism of vertebrate steroid hormone receptors. A chimeric transcription of the DNA-binding domain of the yeast transcription factor GAL4, the transactivating domain of the herpes viral protein VP16, and the receptor domain of the rat glucocorticoid receptor (GR). The GVG gene was introduced into transgenic tobacco and Arabidopsis together with a luciferase (Luc) gene which was transcribed from a promoter containing six tandem copies of the GAL4 upstream activating sequence. Induction of luciferase activity was observed when the transgenic tobacco plants were grown on an agar medium containing dexamethasone (DEX), a strong synthetic glucocorticoid. Induction levels of the luciferase activity were well correlated with DEX concentrations in the range from 0.1 to 10 microM and the maximum expression level was over 100 times that of the basal level. Analysis of the induction kinetics by Northern blot analysis showed that the Luc mRNA was first detected 1 h after DEX treatment and increased to the maximum level in 4 h. The stationary induction level and the duration of the induction varied with the glucocorticoid derivative used. The GVG gene activity can also be regulated by DEX in transgenic Arabidopsis plants. The results indicate that a stringent chemical control of transcription can be achieved in plants with the GVG system. Advantages and potential uses of this system are also discussed.

Expression of retinoid X receptors and COUP-TFI in a human salivary gland adenocarcinoma cell line

The growth of the adenocarcinoma cell line derived from human salivary gland (HSG) is regulated by all-trans-retinoic acid (t-RA), which binds to its specific receptor, retinoic acid receptors (RARs), located in the nucleus, and thereby transactivates target genes. In this study, we examined the binding characteristics of the nuclear extract of HSG cells to the retinoic acid response element (RARE) compared with those of in vitro translated RAR alpha and retinoid X receptor alpha (RXR alpha ), a heterodimeric partner of RAR alpha . Gel shift analysis using anti-RAR alpha and anti-RXR alpha antibodies revealed that the translated RAR alpha bound to RARE as a heterodimer with RXR alpha . In contrast, the binding of the nuclear extract of HSG cells to RARE showed a heterogenous pattern, suggesting the existence of several species of RXRs as well as RARs in the nuclei of HSG cells. We therefore tried to clone these putative RXRs by the polymerase chain reaction using degenerated oligonucleotide primers conserved across the RXR family. The DNA sequencing of the recombinant clones revealed the expression of RXR alpha and RXR beta . In addition, chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor I (COUP-TFI), which is also an RXR family member, was cloned. To evaluate the transcriptional activity of RARs and RXRs endogenously expressed in HSG cells, we performed a transient transfection analysis. When HSG cells were transfected with a luciferase reporter plasmid containing two repeats of either the RARE of the RAR beta gene or that of cellular retinol-binding protein II gene, positioned upstream of a thymidine kinase promoter fused to the luciferase sequence, a 2-3-fold induction of luciferase activity was observed in both cases. These results suggest that RARs and RXRs endogenously expressed in HSG cells were transcriptionally active in vivo. Thus, our findings showed that RXR alpha , RXR beta , and COUP-TFI are expressed in HSG cells and suggest that these molecules function as heterodimeric partners of RARs and (or) competitive repressors for RAREs and are involved in cellular responses mediated by retinoids. Key words: retinoid X receptor, retinoic acid receptor, retinoic acid response element, COUP-transcription factor (COUP-TF).

Antiestrogenic Activity of Hydroxylated Polychlorinated Biphenyl Congeners Identified in Human Serum

Several hydroxylated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) identified in human serum have been synthesized and these include 2,2′,3,4′,5,5′-hexachloro-4-biphenylol; 2,3,3′,4′,5-pentachloro-4-biphenylol; 2′,3,3′,4′,5-pentachloro-4-biphenylol; 2,2′,3,3′,4′,5-hexachloro-4-biphenylol; 2,2′,3,3′,4′,5,5′-heptachloro-4-biphenylol; 2,2′,3,4′,5,5′,6-heptachloro-4-biphenylol; and 2,2′,3′,4,4′,5,5′-heptachloro-3-biphenylol. The hydroxy-PCBs exhibited minimal binding to the rat uterine cytosolic estrogen receptor (ER) and did not induce proliferation of estrogen-responsive MCF-7 human breast cancer cells at concentrations ranging from 10−5to 10−8m. The estrogenic activity of these compounds was further investigated utilizing two estrogen-responsivein vitrobioassays, namely, (i) HeLa cells stably transfected with a Gal4:human ER chimera and a 17-mer-regulated luciferase reporter gene, and (ii) MCF-7 cells transiently transfected with a full-length human ER expression plasmid and a plasmid containing an estrogen-responsive vitellogenin A2 promoter linked to a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) reporter gene. None of the hydroxy-PCBs significantly induced luciferase activity in the stably transfected HeLa cells or CAT activity in MCF-7 cells at concentrations as high as 10−5m. The antiestrogenic effects of the hydroxy-PCBs were also investigated using the same bioassays in which the cells were cotreated with 17β-estradiol plus the hydroxy-PCBs. All of the hydroxy-PCB congeners inhibited one or more estrogenic response, and one congener, 2,2′,3,4′,5,5′,6-heptachloro-4-biphenylol, inhibited 17β-estradiol-induced cell proliferation and CAT activity in MCF-7 cells and luciferase activity in HeLa cells.

Protein-DNA Interactions at a Drug-responsive Element of the Human Apolipoprotein A-I Gene

Previously, we demonstrated that when two human hepatoma cell lines, Hep3B and HepG2, were exposed to gemfibrozil, a hypolipidemic drug, a 2-fold induction in apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) mRNA levels resulted. To determine if mRNA stabilization was responsible for the changes in apoA-I mRNA levels, the half-lives for apoA-I mRNA were measured in the presence of actinomycin D with and without gemfibrozil. These experiments revealed no differences in stability. However, nuclear run-off assays indicated that the transcription rate of the apoA-I gene was increased 2-fold in gemfibrozil-treated cells. Transient transfection experiments also indicated that the induction of apoA-I mRNA level in response to gemfibrozil is mediated at the transcriptional level. We have identified two copies of the "drug-responsive element" (DRE) in the apoA-I promoter region that may be responsible for the increase in apoA-I transcriptional activity by gemfibrozil. Using gel mobility shift assays with a synthetic DRE oligonucleotide, we have demonstrated that exposure of Hep3B and HepG2 cells to gemfibrozil resulted in strong induction of a protein-DNA complex. The formation of this complex is highly sequence-specific as indicated by the DNA competition experiments. The drug-inducible nuclear proteins bind to the DRE of the human apoA-I gene with an apparent Kd of 4.1 nM. Methylation interference experiments have localized the contact sites of nuclear factors to the DRE region. Southwestern blot analyses have identified two groups of drug-inducible nuclear proteins with molecular masses of approximately 30 and 15 kDa. When a copy of synthetic DRE oligonucleotide was inserted upstream of the thymidine kinase promoter and luciferase reporter construct, a significant 2-fold induction in luciferase activity was observed in the presence of gemfibrozil following transient transfection of two human hepatoma cell lines, HepG2 and Hep3B. However, a plasmid containing one copy of mutated apoA-I-DRE oligomer did not confer responsiveness to gemfibrozil treatment. Furthermore, pGL2 (apoA-I -250 mutant DRE), which carried an internal mutation of the DRE in the human apoA-I proximal promoter region, showed no increase in luciferase activity in response to gemfibrozil. These results implicate protein-DNA interactions at the DRE region in the transcriptional induction of human apoA-I gene expression by gemfibrozil.

Molecular mechanisms for the growth factor action of gastrin

Todisco, Andrea, Yoshiaki Takeuchi, Andrej Urumov, Junko Yamada, Vinzenz M. Stepan, and Tadataka Yamada. Molecular mechanisms for the growth factor action of gastrin. Am. J. Physiol. 273 (Gastrointest. Liver Physiol. 36): G891–G898, 1997.—We have previously observed that gastrin has a cholecystokinin B (CCK-B) receptor-mediated growth-promoting effect on the AR42J rat pancreatic acinar cell line and that this effect is paralleled by induction of expression of the early response gene c-fos. We undertook these experiments to elucidate the mechanism for induction of c-fos and the linkage of this action to the trophic effects of gastrin. Gastrin (0.1–10 nM) dose dependently induced luciferase activity in AR42J cells transfected with a construct consisting of a luciferase reporter gene coupled to the serum response element (SRE) of the c-fos promoter. This effect was blocked by the specific CCK-B receptor antagonist D2 but not by the specific CCK-A receptor antagonist L-364,718 or by pertussis toxin, indicating that gastrin targets the SRE via specific CCK-B receptors through a mechanism independent of Gi. Inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) either by prolonged (24 h) exposure of the cells to the phorbol ester 12-Otetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (100 nM) or by incubation with the selective inhibitor GF-109203X (3.5 μM) resulted in an 80% reduction in luciferase activity. Similar results were observed in the presence of the specific extracellular signalregulated kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD-98059 (50 μM). We measured ERK2 activity in AR42J cells via in-gel kinase assays and observed that gastrin (1 pM-100 nM) induced ERK2 enzyme activity in a dose-dependent manner. Addition of GF-109203X and PD-98059, either alone or in combination, produced, respectively, partial and total inhibition of gastrin-induced ERK2 activity. Gastrin induction of ERK2 activity also resulted in a threefold increase in the transcriptional activity of Elk-1, a factor known to bind to the c-fos SRE and to be phosphorylated and activated by ERK2. PD-98059 blocked the growth-promoting effect of gastrin on the AR42J cells, demonstrating that this effect depends on activation of MEK. Our data lead us to conclude that the trophic actions of gastrin are mediated by ERK2-induced c-fos gene expression via PKC-dependent and -independent pathways.

Activation of the human immunodeficiency virus long terminal repeat in THP-1 cells by a staphylococcal extracellular product.

Staphylococcal strains can release a factor that strongly activates the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) long terminal repeat (LTR) in THP-1 cells transfected with the HIV-1 LTR-driven luciferase reporter gene (THP-1 LTRluc). The factor is present in the overnight culture fluid and is readily released from the organisms into aqueous medium by vigorous mixing. Staphylococcal extracellular material is a complex mixture of polysaccharide and protein containing peptidoglycan and teichoic acid, released in part by cell wall turnover. The importance of the carbohydrate component is emphasized by concanavalin A (Con A) inhibition of staphylococcal product-induced LTR activation but not of activation by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate or tumor necrosis factor. The effect of Con A was decreased or abolished by sugars in the order methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside > methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside > mannose > glucose = fructose > N-acetylglucosamine. Wheat germ agglutinin was less inhibitory than Con A; in this instance N-acetylglucosamine decreased inhibition, whereas methyl alpha-D-mannopyranoside or methyl alpha-D-glucopyranoside did not. The induction of luciferase activity in THP-1 LTRluc by the staphylococcal extracellular product also was inhibited by fetal bovine and normal human serum. A comparison of 31 staphylococcal isolates (9 Staphylococcus aureus, 11 Staphylococcus epidermidis, 2 Staphylococcus haemolyticus, 4 Staphylococcus hominis, 2 Staphylococcus capitis, 2 Staphylococcus warneri, 1 Staphylococcus saprophyticus) revealed wide variation in LTR activating activity that did not correlate closely with slime production. Our findings, using induction of luciferase in THP-1 LTRluc as a model for upregulation of HIV infection, raise the possibility that staphylococci, as well as certain other microorganisms, release carbohydrate-containing exopolymers, which can activate the HIV-1 LTR, thus influencing progression of HIV infection.

Expression of a thyroid hormone-responsive recombinant gene introduced into adult mice livers by replication-defective adenovirus can be regulated by endogenous thyroid hormone receptor.

We constructed a recombinant adenovirus carrying the firefly luciferase gene driven by the thymidine kinase promoter and controlled by the palindromic thyroid hormone/retinoic acid-responsive element. The same adenovirus vector without the hormone-responsive element was used as control. Regulation of the luciferase gene expression was tested in pituitary-derived GH cells and hepatoma-derived HepG2 cells infected with the recombinant adenoviruses. Administration of triiodothyronine to GH cells and all-trans-retinoic acid to HepG2 cells resulted in 8.0 +/- 0.3-fold and 4.6 +/- 0.5-fold induction of luciferase activity, respectively. No significant increase was observed with the control adenovirus. Hormonal regulation was also examined in adult mice. Mice depleted of thyroid hormone were injected intravenously with the recombinant adenoviruses and given 4 times the replacement dose of triiodothyronine or vehicle only for 4 days. Hormone administration resulted in 4.2-fold increase of luciferase activity in liver homogenates. No significant effect was observed in animals injected with the control adenovirus. This recombinant adenovirus provides a new experimental system in the study of thyroid hormone and retinoic acid action and offers the potential to regulate by physiological means the expression of genes transferred for the purpose of therapy.

The oestrogen receptor modulates growth of pituitary tumour cells in the absence of exogenous oestrogen.

The GH3 pituitary cell line has been used to investigate the role of the oestrogen receptor (ER) as a modulator of mitogenic signals in tumour cells in the absence of exogenous oestrogen. Using a chemically defined, serum- and oestrogen-free medium, we have demonstrated that the pure steroidal anti-oestrogens ICI 182780 and ICI 164384 are capable of blocking growth by more than 50% after 5 days of culture. Studies with conditioned medium have indicated that the basal growth is due to the secretion of autocrine growth stimulatory substances. Under serum- and oestrogen-free conditions, insulin and IGF-I increased the growth rate of these cells by twofold over a 5-day treatment period, and this effect was also blocked by the anti-oestrogens ICI 182780 and ICI 164384 (50% of maximum inhibition at 0.6 and 6 nM respectively). To explore the potential mechanism by which the ER apparently facilitates the growth factor effects under oestrogen-free conditions, GH3 cells were transiently transfected with a plasmid reporter containing the vitellogenin oestrogen response element (delta MTV-ERE-LUC). We have shown that as well as oestradiol (OE2), insulin and IGF-I induce luciferase activity by between two- and sevenfold (four experiments), and these effects were completely blocked by ICI 182780. In contrast, growth factors and OE2 were unable to induce luciferase expression when transfections were performed with a plasmid reporter lacking the oestrogen response element. The studies presented here strongly suggest that, in the absence of oestrogen, the ER in these pituitary tumour cells has a role in growth, as peptide factors are able to induce its conversion to a state which is capable of up-regulating the transcription of key growth-promoting genes.

Role of protein phosphorylation in EPO-mediated early signal transduction: analysis in the EPO-reactive cell line ELM-I-1 transfected with a c-fos-enhancer/promoter-luciferase reporter gene.

To investigate the role of protein phosphorylation in the early phase of EPO-mediated signal transduction, we EPO-stimulated a murine erythroid cell line ELM-I-1 transformed by plasmids comprised of the c-fos enhancer/promoter linked to the luciferase gene. Using this reporter gene system, we previously showed that EPO-induced activation of the c-fos promoter can be detected rapidly and sensitively as an elevation of cellular luciferase activity. In this study, we first examined the role of protein tyrosine phosphorylation. The tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor orthovanadate not only induced luciferase activity by itself but enhanced the action of EPO. On the other hand, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors erbstatin and herbimycin suppressed the effect of EPO. Next, the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in the EPO response was assessed. The PKC activator phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) not only induced luciferase activity by itself but enhanced the action of Epo. On the other hand, the PKC inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolynyl-sulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine (H7) suppressed the effect of Epo and PMA, whereas a nonspecific protein kinase inhibitor, N-(2-Guanidinoethyl)-5-Isoquinolinesulfornamine (HA1004) inhibited the action of neither Epo nor PMA. Another known PKC inhibitor staurosporine (STSP) did not inhibit but rather enhanced the effect of Epo. This action of STSP was blocked by H7 but not by HA1004. These results suggest that the EPO-mediated early signal transduction pathway leading to c-fos expression involves protein-tyrosine phosphorylation, is modulated by tyrosine phosphatase activity and is positively regulated by PKC.

Basic fibroblast growth factor-induced low density lipoprotein receptor transcription and surface expression. Signal transduction pathways mediated by the bFGF receptor tyrosine kinase.

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) has been implicated in the regulation of cell proliferation and cholesterol metabolism. In studies reported herein, we show bFGF increases low density lipoprotein (LDL) binding, uptake, and degradation in arterial smooth muscle cells in a dose-dependent manner. This increase was paralleled by an increase in LDL receptor mRNA steady state levels. To determine if bFGF activated transcription of the LDL receptor gene, we transiently transfected smooth muscle cells with a gene construct consisting of the 5'-upstream promoter region of the DNA from the human LDL receptor gene ligated to a plasmid containing the luciferase gene. We found that bFGF and a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, significantly induced luciferase activity driven by the LDL receptor promoter, whereas 25-hydroxycholesterol reduced the luciferase activity in bFGF-stimulated cells. These findings show that bFGF and PKC are inducing LDL receptor gene transcription. We also evaluated potential signal transduction pathways induced by bFGF to establish the mechanism(s) leading to the activation of the LDL receptor gene. Activation of the activity of FGF receptor tyrosine kinase in smooth muscle cells by ligand binding resulted in tyrosine phosphorylation of one of the FGF receptors and a 90-kDa-protein as well as increased tyrosine phosphorylation of phospholipase C-gamma. Parallel observations were made in that increased PKC and protein kinase A activities occurred with bFGF as compared with control cells. Inhibitors of receptor tyrosine kinase and other protein kinases significantly reduced transcription and surface expression of LDL receptor. Finally, several key enzymes that are central to the regulation of LDL-cholesteryl ester metabolism were also studied in bFGF-stimulated cells. An increase in acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase activity and cholesterol esterification was observed with bFGF stimulation, but there was no effect on the lysosomal or cytoplasmic cholesteryl ester hydrolase activities. Our findings suggest potential signal transduction pathways activated by bFGF which play a role in regulating transcription and surface expression of the LDL receptor.

Promoter analysis of an interferon-inducible gene associated with macrophage activation.

We have investigated the regulation of an activation-associated guanylate-binding protein gene (mGBP-1/mag-1) in murine macrophage cell lines in response to the cytokine IFN-gamma. One of the cell lines utilized (RAW 264.7) acquires the ability to kill tumor cells after IFN-gamma and LPS treatment, whereas the other (WEHI-3) does not. We previously have demonstrated that mGBP-1 is induced by IFN-gamma in RAW 264.7 but not WEHI-3 cells. Here we present information concerning the cloning, sequencing, and initial characterization of the upstream region of the mGBP-1 gene as a first step towards understanding the differential control of this gene in RAW 264.7 versus WEHI-3 cells. Genomic fragments encompassing a portion of the mGBP-1 5' flanking region were inserted into vectors containing a luciferase reporter gene. 928 bp of upstream sequence were found to be sufficient for IFN-gamma-mediated induction of luciferase activity in the RAW 264.7 cell line. Furthermore, sequences within 100 bp of the major transcription initiation site conferred strong IFN-gamma responsiveness to the reporter gene. A perfect match to the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) was present within this region, and was shown to be essential for interferon-induced expression. An oligonucleotide corresponding to the mGBP-1 ISRE bestowed interferon-inducible expression on a heterologous minimal promoter. Site-specific mutation of the ISRE within the 106-bp upstream region eliminated interferon inducibility of this construct. Taken together, the results indicate the ISRE is necessary and sufficient for IFN-gamma induction of the mGBP-1 gene. Transient transfection assays carried out with the WEHI-3 cell line indicated that all promoter constructs were transcriptionally inactive in these cells, including the ISRE-minimal promoter construct. The inability of the WEHI-3 cell line to utilize an ISRE after IFN-gamma induction may underlie the functional differences exhibited by the two cell lines after IFN-gamma stimulation.

Okadaic Acid Inhibits Glucocorticoid-Induced Apoptosis in T Cell Hybridomas at Its Late Stage

Glucocorticoids induce apoptosis in murine T cell hybridomas. It was inhibited by okadaic acid and calyculin A, potent inhibitors of protein phosphatase 1 and 2A, but not by 1-norokadaone, a structural analog of okadaic acid without phosphatase inhibitory activity. The inhibitory effect of okadaic acid was significant even when it was added 9 h after the start of the culture. Okadaic acid did not prevent either the translocation of glucocorticoid receptor from the cytoplasm to the nucleus or the induction of luciferase activity in the T cell hybridoma transfected with a plasmid containing the luciferase gene under the control of glucocorticoid response elements. These results indicate that protein dephosphorylation is an essential step for glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in T cell hybridomas, and that the step is at the late stage of the apoptotic process.

Transcriptional and posttranscriptional regulation of inhibin alpha-subunit gene expression in rat Sertoli cells by 8-bromo-3',5'-cyclic-adenosine monophosphate.

FSH is a major regulator of inhibin production in the testis. FSH effects on Sertoli cell inhibin production are believed to be mediated, at least in part, via the cAMP second messenger system. Previously, it has been shown that 8-bromo-cAMP (8-Br-cAMP) stimulates inhibin-alpha mRNA levels. This study examines whether the cAMP-induced increase in inhibin-alpha mRNA levels results from increased alpha mRNA synthesis, decreased degradation of mRNA, or both. The effects of cAMP on inhibin-alpha gene transcription were examined using nuclear run-on assays. Furthermore, the ability of 8-Br-cAMP to drive the transcription of chimeric constructs containing a 2.2-kilobase (kb) segment of the 5'-regulatory region of the alpha gene placed upstream of the coding region of the luciferase reporter gene was also examined. Data from nuclear run-on assays demonstrated rapid induction of alpha gene transcription by cAMP within 2 h and maximal 4- to 5-fold increase within 4-8 h in primary Sertoli cells. Transfection of TM.4 and JEG.3 cells with an alpha (2.2 kb):luciferase chimeric construct (containing 2.2 kb of the alpha gene 5'-flanking DNA) revealed rapid time-dependent induction of luciferase activity by 8-Br-cAMP in these cell types. To examine the effects of 8-Br-cAMP on alpha mRNA stability, cells were pretreated with medium or 50 micrograms/ml 8-Br-cAMP for 24 h before addition of 5 microM actinomycin D to arrest new RNA synthesis, and the decay of alpha mRNA transcripts was assessed over 24 h by Northern analysis and nonlinear regression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Response of Human CYP1-Luciferase Plasmids to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

The cytochrome P4501 gene family consists of two members, CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, that are induced by halogenated hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The human CYP1 promoters and 5′-flanking sequences were cloned into luciferase expression vectors to develop cell lines that stably express luciferase activity in response to CYP1 gene induction. Plasmids were initially tested in transient transfection assays. Transient transfections resulted in high-level expression of luciferase by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo- p-dioxin (TCDD) from both the CYP1 expression vectors, pLUC1A1 and pLUC1A2. In dose-response experiments, 10 nM TCDD caused a maximal induction of pLUC1A2-directed luciferase activity that was 10-fold over control. Maximal pLUC1A1-directed luciferase activity was 65-fold over control in cells treated with 10 nM TCDD. Stable integration of CYP1-luciferase-neo plasmids, pL1A1N and pL1A2N, into the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, was achieved by selection with G418. G418-resistant colonies were isolated for both pL1A1N and pL1A2N plasmids. The pL1A2N transfectants showed basal-level luciferase activity, but were nonresponsive to treatment with 10 nM TCDD. These results are in contrast to the observed induction of pLUC1A2-mediated luciferase expression in transient transfection experiments. Stable integration of the human CYP1A2 gene sequences appears to silence the transcriptional activation by TCDD. The pL1A1N transfectants showed inducible luciferase activity and one cell line, referred to as 101L, was used to establish dose-response relationships for TCDD and various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Maximal induction occurred after treatment with 100 nM TCDD, 10 μM 3-methylcholanthrene, 50 μM benz[ a]anthracene, and 50 μM benzo[ a]pyrene. These studies illustrate the use of the CYP1A1-luciferase cell line for the study of structure-activity relationships.

Activity of the CYP17 promoter in bovine adrenocortical cells before and after phenotypic switching

Cultured bovine adrenocortical cells reach replicative senescence after 100–120 population doublings in culture. Before reaching senescence, cells undergo high frequency phenotypic switching from CYP17 + to CYP17 −, where ‘+’ and ‘−’ refer to the ability of intracellular cyclic AMP to induce expression of CYP17 (steroid 17α-hydroxylase). We used luciferase reporter constructs to assess the activity of the CYP17 promoter in bovine adrenocortical cells before and after phenotypic switching. We constructed two plasmids containing −2544 to + 29 and −488 to + 29 of the 5' region of CYP17 linked to a promoterless luciferase gene. Because of technical difficulties with transient transfection of late-passage bovine adrenocortical cells, these experiments were performed using stable transfection. Cells at early passage (PDL 10) and late passage (PDL 55) were cotransfected with either of these two plasmids ligated to pSV3neo, and G418-resistant pools of clones were derived. The activity of the CYP17 promoter in these transfectants was tested by growing cells in complete medium until semiconfluent and then transferring them into defined medium with cholera toxin and insulin-like growth factor I for 6 h. Luciferase activity was consistently induced by cholera toxin/IGF-I over five passages in pooled clones derived by transfection of early passage cells with the −488 construct. Despite the lack of expression of the endogenous CYP17 gene in transfectants from late-passage cells, induced luciferase activity was higher in late-passage transfectants than early-passage transfectants for both the −2544 and −488 constructs. However, the −2544 construct had a lower response to cholera toxin than the −488 construct in cells from both PDLs, indicating the potential existence of a negative regulatory element. The lower expression of the −2544 construct was confirmed in assays on individual clones of cells as well as pooled clones. These data indicate that the loss of cyclic AMP-inducible CYP17 expression during bovine adrenocortical cell senescence likely does not result from a loss of positive regulatory factors that act within 2.5 kb upstream of the CYP17 promoter.

Identification of regulatory sequences in the type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor gene responsive to transforming growth factor beta.

Regulation of the human type 1 plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1) promoter by transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta) was studied. An 800-base pair fragment from the PAI-1 promoter and 5'-flanking region was fused to the firefly luciferase reporter gene and transfected into Hep3B human hepatoma cells. Treatment of the cells with TGF beta induced luciferase activity by more than 50-fold. Transfection studies using constructs with 5' or 3' deletions through this region revealed that two sequences were important in the TGF beta response. The first sequence was located in the proximal promoter (-49 to -87) and mediated an 11-fold induction with TGF beta, while the second more distal region (-636 to -740) contained two sequences which together mediated a 50-fold or greater response. Sequence comparison indicated that both of the responsive regions contained sequences with high homology to the AP-1 consensus binding site. Moreover, gel retardation analysis experiments demonstrated that both sequences bound a common nuclear protein, and that an oligonucleotide containing a consensus AP-1 sequence was able to compete for the binding of this common protein. Thus, the response of the PAI-1 gene to TGF beta is mediated by at least two separate regions, and both of these regions contain DNA sequences homologous to the AP-1 binding site.

Cloning of the human gene for intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and analysis of its 5'-regulatory region. Induction by cytokines and phorbol ester.

Human intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), a specific ligand for the lymphocyte function-associated Ag-1 (LFA-1), plays an important role in leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions. It is induced by proinflammatory cytokines such as IL-1, TNF-alpha, or IFN-gamma. However, little is known concerning the intracellular regulatory mechanisms which trigger ICAM-1 up-regulation. In order to study potential regulatory elements involved in ICAM-1 induction we have cloned the human ICAM-1 gene and 5 kb of its 5'-regulatory region. The sequence of the cDNA was found to be distributed over seven exons separated by six introns, whereby each of the five extracellular Ig-like domains of ICAM-1 is encoded by its own exon. The upstream sequence harbors a number of sequence motifs implicated in the regulation and expression of eukaryotic genes, including binding sites for the transcription factors SP-1, AP-1, and NF-kB. Primer extension and S1 nuclease analysis revealed two transcription initiation sites 319 bp and 41 bp upstream of the translation start site. Consensus TATA boxes were found at the expected positions about 25 bp upstream of both start sites. Reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction showed differential use of the two TATA boxes in A549 and HS913T cells. Both RNA seem to code for the same for of ICAM-1 protein. For regulation studies a 1.3-kb EcoRI/SalI fragment of the 5'-flanking region was used to promote transcription of a linked luciferase reporter gene in transient-transfection assays in A549 and HS913T cells. Treatment of A549 cells with IL-1 or TNF-alpha resulted in a two- or fourfold increase in luciferase activity. Furthermore, a sixfold induction could be achieved after treatment with the phorbol ester PMA. In contrast, agents that increase intracellular cAMP levels did not induce luciferase activity. Northern blot analysis was used to investigate the kinetics of ICAM-1 mRNA synthesis upon induction with TNF-alpha and PMA. These data suggest that the up-regulation of ICAM-1 by cytokines occurs at least partly at the transcriptional level. Deletion analysis of the 1.3-kb fragment of the 5'-flanking region revealed sequences responsible for promotion and inhibition of transcription. In particular, two functionally distinct regions have been characterized: a short fragment containing an NF-kB binding site has been shown to function as an activator, followed immediately downstream by a sequence acting as a silencer element. Therefore, ICAM-1 gene expression seems to be modulated by multiple cis-acting elements.