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Biomedical subjects

I Kola

Publications and source records attributed to I Kola.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Methylation-dependent silencing of the testis-specific Pdha-2 basal promoter occurs through selective targeting of an activating transcription factor/cAMP-responsive element-binding site.

In this study, we demonstrate that methylation-dependent repression of the Pdha-2 core promoter is mediated regionally through a consensus activating transcription factor/cAMP-responsive element-binding site located between nucleotides -54 and -62 upstream of the major transcriptional start site. Targeting of the CpG dinucleotide within this cis-element significantly disrupts the ability of this basal promoter to activate gene expression in vitro and completely abolishes promoter activity in vivo. DNase I footprinting experiments indicated that availability of the nuclear factor(s) binding this element is limiting in sexually immature mouse testis, and as such, these factors may play an important role in the coordinate activation of early spermatogenic gene expression. Interestingly, CpG dinucleotides associated with the hypersensitive region flanking the activating transcription factor/cAMP-responsive element-binding site appear to confer some conformational structure on the promoter since mutations at these specific CpG dinucleotides result in elevated basal levels of transcription. This raises the possibility of a potential bifunctional role for CpG dinucleotides in either methylation-dependent or -independent processes. Our data support the notion that hypomethylation and transcription factor recruitment are necessary events that precede gene activation at the early stages of spermatogenesis.

3T3 Cells↗

Involvement of Ets transcription factors and targets in osteoblast differentiation and matrix mineralization.

The osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cell line provides an excellent in vitro model of bone development. This system undergoes three orderly time-dependent phases characterized by proliferating preosteoblasts, matrix accumulation by postmitotic differentiating osteoblasts, and mineralization of the matrix, which results in the formation of multilayered bone nodules. The Ets family transcription factors regulate genetic programs that affect the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. Of the eight Ets family transcription factors examined by our laboratory, only Etsl and Ets2 were found to be expressed at significant levels in this osteogenic system. Etsl is expressed in proliferating preosteoblastic cells, whereas Ets2, silent during this phase, is expressed by differentiating and mature osteoblasts. In addition, the expression of Etsl can be induced in MC3T3-E1 and fetal rat calvaria cells by retinoic acid (RA) which is known to exert profound effects on skeletal growth and development and bone turnover and induce specific cellular responses in bone cells. Thus, the multiple functions of RA in bone cells are likely to be mediated in part by Etsl. We show that the expression of Ets2 precedes and then parallels osteopontin expression and that the OPN promoter contains Ets binding sites and is a transcriptional target of Ets2. In order to identify other potential Ets target genes, we analyzed promoter regions of genes revealed by serial analysis of gene expression as present in the differentiation stage. The functional analysis of these genes has the potential to provide much needed information as to their function in osteogenesis and mineralization of the extracellular matrix and in bone-related diseases.

Animals↗

The Ets1 proto-oncogene is upregulated by retinoic acid: characterization of a functional retinoic acid response element in the Ets1 promoter.

The v-ets oncoprotein and its progenitor Ets1 belong to a family of transcription factors that are related by an 85 amino acid conserved DNA binding domain, the ets domain. Ets1 plays important role(s) in control of cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Abnormal expression of Ets1 could lead to disruption of these processes and contribute to development of malignancy. Retinoic acid (RA) inhibits proliferation, induces differentiation and regulates apoptosis in many different cell types. Here, we demonstrate that RA treatment increases the expression of Ets1 mRNA, but not that of Ets2, Elk1 or Fli1 in MC3T3-E1 cells. Ets1 induction is detectable after 4 h, can be maintained for at least 14 days, and is inhibited by Actinomycin D, which suggests that RA regulation of Ets1 occurs at the transcriptional level. The promoter region of Ets1 contains four retinoic acid response element (RARE) half sites located at -94, -152, -1765 and -2252 from the translation start site. We show that RARbeta is expressed by MC3T3-E1 cells in the presence of RA and demonstrate that it binds to the -94 RARE half site. Furthermore, RA induces transcription of Ets1 promoter-reporter constructs containing this RARE half site.

Cells, Cultured↗

Regulation of rat cytochrome P450C24 (CYP24) gene expression. Evidence for functional cooperation of Ras-activated Ets transcription factors with the vitamin D receptor in 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3)-mediated induction.

Transcription of the rat CYP24 gene is induced by 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)) through two vitamin D response elements (VDREs). A functional Ras-dependent Ets-binding site (EBS) was located downstream from the proximal VDRE and was critical to 1,25(OH)(2)D(3)-mediated induction. Cotransfection of Ets-1 and Ets-2 stimulated induction, which was lost when the EBS was mutated. Multiple nuclear-protein complexes from COS-1 cells bound to the EBS in which three complexes were immunologically related to Ets-1. Transcriptional synergy was observed between the proximal VDRE and adjacent EBS as was the attendant formation of a ternary complex between vitamin D receptor- retinoid X receptor (VDR. RXR) and Ets-1. In the absence of 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) or in the presence of an inactive proximal VDRE, the EBS failed to respond to exogenous Ets-1. However, Ets-1 increased basal expression when cotransfected with a mutant VDR. The inductive action of 1, 25-(OH)(2)D(3) was substantially increased by Ras, which was ablated by mutagenesis of the EBS or by expression of a mutated Ets-1 protein (T38A). EBS contribution to hormone induction was prevented by manumycin A, an inhibitor of Ras farnesylation. A fundamental role was established for transcriptional cooperation between Ras-activated Ets proteins and the VDR.RXR complex in mediating 1, 25-(OH)(2)D(3) action on the CYP24 promoter.

Animals↗

Role of type I interferons during macrophage activation by lipopolysaccharide.

Activation of macrophages by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is accompanied by the secretion of type I interferons (IFNs) which can act in an autocrine manner. We examined the role of type I IFNs in macrophage responses to LPS using bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) from IFNAR1-/- mice, which lack a component of the type I IFN receptor and do not respond to type I IFNs. We found that, unlike wild-type (WT) BMM, LPS-treated IFNAR1-/- cells failed to produce nitric oxide (NO), or express inducible NO synthase (iNOS), indicating that type I IFNs are essential for all LPS-stimulated NO production in BMM. Exogenously added type II IFN (IFNgamma) rescued these responses in LPS-treated IFNAR1-/- BMM. In contrast to effects on NO, type I IFNs negatively regulated respiratory burst activity in LPS-primed BMM. We also found that while type I IFNs mediated the anti-proliferative effects of lower concentrations of LPS, at higher concentrations LPS acted in a type I IFNs-independent manner. Finally, we report that type I IFNs are a survival factor for BMM. Despite this, the ability of LPS to also prevent apoptosis in BMM was independent of type I IFNs. These findings highlight the diverse roles of type I IFNs in mediating LPS-stimulated macrophage responses.

Animals↗

Type I interferons mediate the lipopolysaccharide induction of macrophage cyclin D2.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is a powerful macrophage-activating agent and antimitogen. We recently showed that LPS unexpectedly induces cyclin D2 in macrophages. Since LPS stimulates macrophages to produce autocrine-acting cytokines, we examined whether LPS induction of cyclin D2 was mediated by one such type of cytokine, type I interferons (IFN). We report that bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMM) lacking a component of the type I interferon receptor (IFNAR-1) do not express cyclin D2 mRNA or protein in response to LPS stimulation (0.01-1 microg/ml for 7-30 h). Consistent with this result, addition of anti-IFN-alpha/beta neutralizing antibodies reduced levels of LPS-stimulated cyclin D2 in normal BMM. Furthermore, IFN-alpha alone induced cyclin D2 mRNA and protein in normal BMM. Thus, we have identified a new role for type I IFN in macrophages, namely, as essential mediators of LPS-stimulated cyclin D2 expression.

Animals↗

Chromosomal localization of phospholipase A2 activating protein, an Ets2 target gene, to 9p21.

A murine Ets2 target gene isolated by differential display cloning was identified as the phospholipase A2 activating protein (PLAA) gene. A 2.7-kb human cDNA demonstrating high homology to mouse and rat Plaa genes was then isolated and characterized. Human PLAA contains six WD-40 repeat motifs and three different protein kinase consensus domains. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) mapping placed PLAA on chromosome 9p21, a region frequently deleted in various cancers. A comprehensive mapping strategy was employed to define further the chromosomal localization of PLAA relative to CDKN2A within the 9p21 locus. Radiation hybrid mapping placed the gene 7.69 cR from WI-5735 (LOD >3.0), a marker in close proximity to CDKN2A and CDKN2B. Yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) mapping localized PLAA proximal to the CDKN2A/CDKN2B genes and to a region flanked by D9S171 and INFA commonly deleted in many neoplasms. Two YACs contained both PLAA and D9S259, a marker present in a second more proximal minimal deleted region observed in cutaneous melanoma and squamous cell lung carcinoma. Double-color fiber FISH mapping confirmed the location of PLAA centromeric to D9S171 and CDKN2A/CDKN2B. The mapping data suggest a possible tumor suppressor role for this gene.

Animals↗

Oxidative stress and neural dysfunction in Down syndrome.

Total or partial trisomy of chromosome 21 occurs with relatively high frequency and is responsible for the occurrence of Down syndrome. Phenotypically, individuals with Down syndrome display characteristic morphological features and a variety of clinical disorders. One of the challenges for researchers in this field has been to ascertain and understand the relationship between the Down syndrome phenotype with the gene dosage effect resulting from trisomy of chromosome 21. Much attention therefore, has been given towards investigating the consequences of overexpressing chromosome 21-linked genes. In particular, an extensive analysis of SOD1 and APP have provided important insights as to how perturbations in the expression of their respective genes may contribute to the Down syndrome phenotype. In this review we will highlight studies which support a key role for SOD1 and APP in the pathogenesis of neural abnormalities observed in individuals with Down syndrome. Central to this relationship is how the redox state of the cell is affected and its consequences to neural function and integrity.

Alzheimer Disease↗

Regulation of the human stress response gene GADD153 expression: role of ETS1 and FLI-1 gene products.

We have previously shown that ETS transcription factors, regulate cell growth and differentiation, and ETS1 and ETS2 are able to transcriptionally regulate wt p53 gene expression. In the present study we show that the ETS transcription factors also play a role in regulating expression of GADD153, a wt p53 inducible gene, which induces growth arrest and apoptosis in response to stress signals or DNA damage. We report the presence of a single EBS in the human GADD153 promoter, and that the GADD45 gene promoter lacks EBSs. The GADD153 promoter EBS shows a very high affinity for ETS1 and FLI-1 gene products. In addition, our data show that both ETS1 and FLI-1 strongly activate transcription of the GADD153 EBS linked to the CAT reporter gene. Our results also demonstrate how ETS1 and FLI-1 specifically regulate GADD153 expression. In addition, ectopic ETS2 protein expression resulted in only a weak induction of the same CAT reporter construct. The ETS1 and FLI-1 proteins provide a novel mechanism of activation for GADD153, allowing these two ETS genes to control its expression during cell growth and differentiation, rather than in response to oxidative stress.

Animals↗

Osteopetrosis and osteoporosis: two sides of the same coin.

Together, osteoporosis and osteopetrosis comprise a substantial proportion of the bone diseases that severely affect humans. In order to understand and effectively treat these disorders, an understanding of the mechanisms controlling bone remodelling is essential. While numerous animal models of bone disease have been generated, the lack of correlation between these animal models and human disease has limited their utility in terms of defining therapeutic strategies. The generation and analysis of cathepsin K knockout mice has resulted in a model for pycnodysostosis, a rare human osteopetrotic disease, and is now providing considerable insights into both osteoclast function and potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of bone disease. This review highlights the importance of genes such as cathepsin K in understanding bone remodelling and illustrates a new trend towards understanding bone disease as a complete entity rather than as a series of unrelated disorders.

Animals↗

Transcription factors Ets1, Ets2, and Elf1 exhibit differential localization in human endometrium across the menstrual cycle and alternate isoforms in cultured endometrial cells.

To better understand the transcriptional regulation of human endometrial remodeling, the localization of three members of the Ets family of transcription factors was examined at different stages of the menstrual cycle. Elf1 was found by immunohistochemistry to be predominantly localized to the glandular epithelium. In contrast, Ets1 and Ets2 were found at lower intensities in both glandular epithelial and stromal cells. Low expression during the menstrual phase of the cycle, and high expression and intensity of staining in decidualized stromal cells of the late secretory phase were common to Ets1, Ets2, and Elf1. These localization patterns were confirmed in cultured human endometrial stromal and epithelial cells by Western blotting, which also demonstrated different isoforms and phosphorylation products of Ets1 and Ets2 in the two cell types. This study has shown for the first time that members of the Ets family of transcription factors, previously found predominantly during development and in hematopoietic cells, are expressed in the human endometrium and display cell and cycle-stage specificity. Expression of Elf1 predominantly in the glandular epithelium may indicate that Elf1 plays a unique role in epithelium-specific gene regulation in the endometrium.

Blotting, Western↗