Antibody supershift assay is inadequate for determining HSF stoichiometry in HSE complexes.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
L Sistonen
Publications and source records attributed to L Sistonen.
Stage-specific expression and cellular localization of the heat shock factor 2 isoforms in the rat seminiferous epithelium.
Heat shock transcription factors (HSFs) are generally known as regulators of cellular stress response. The mammalian HSF1 functions as a classical stress factor, whereas HSF2 is active during certain developmental processes, including embryogenesis and spermatogenesis. In the present study, we examined HSF2 expression at specific stages of the rat seminiferous epithelial cycle. We found that expression of the alternatively spliced HSF2-alpha and HSF2-beta isoforms is developmentally regulated in a stage-specific manner. Studies on cellular localization demonstrated that HSF2 is present in the nuclei of early pachytene spermatocytes at stages I-IV and in the nuclei of round spermatids at stages V-VIIab. In contrast a strong HSF2 immunoreactivity was detected in small distinct cytoplasmic regions from zygotene spermatocytes to maturation phase spermatids. Immunoelectron microscopic analysis revealed that these structures are mainly cytoplasmic bridges between germ cells. Our results on cellular localization of HSF2 and stage-specific expression of the HSF2 isoforms indicate that HSF2, in addition to its function as a nuclear transcription factor, may be involved in other cellular processes during spermatogenesis, possibly in the sharing process of gene products between the germ cells.
Animals↗
Suppression of Fas/APO-1-mediated apoptosis by mitogen-activated kinase signaling.
Jurkat T cells undergo rapid apoptosis upon stimulation of the Fas/APO-1 (CD95) receptor. We examined the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade as a negative regulator of Fas-mediated apoptosis. To this end, we used both physiologic and artificial activators of MAPK, all of which activate MAPK by distinct routes. MAPK activity could be efficiently elevated by two T cell mitogens, the lectin PHA and an agonistic Ab to the T cell receptor complex as well as by the type 1 and 2A phosphatase inhibitor, calyculin A, and the protein kinase C-activating phorbol ester, tetradecanoyl phorbol acetate. All these treatments were effective in preventing the characteristic early and late features of Fas-mediated apoptosis, including activation of caspases. Our results indicate that the elevated MAPK activities intervene upstream of caspase activation. The degree of MAPK activation by the different stimuli used in our study corresponds well to their potency to inhibit apoptosis, indicating that MAPK activation serves as an efficient modulator of Fas-mediated apoptosis. The role of MAPK in modulation of Fas-mediated apoptosis was further corroborated by transient transfection with constitutively active MAPK kinase, resulting in complete inhibition of the Fas response, whereas transfection with a dominant negative form of MAPK kinase had no effect. Furthermore, the apoptosis inhibitory effect of the MAPK activators could be abolished by the specific MAPK kinase inhibitor PD 098059. Modulation of Fas responses by MAPK signaling may determine the persistence of an immune response and may explain the insensitivity of recently activated T cells to Fas receptor stimulation.
Apoptosis↗
Hsp70 accumulation in chondrocytic cells exposed to high continuous hydrostatic pressure coincides with mRNA stabilization rather than transcriptional activation.
In response to various stress stimuli, heat shock genes are induced to express heat shock proteins (Hsps). Previous studies have revealed that expression of heat shock genes is regulated both at transcriptional and posttranscriptional level, and the rapid transcriptional induction of heat shock genes involves activation of the specific transcription factor, heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). Furthermore, the transcriptional induction can vary in intensity and kinetics in a signal- and cell-type-dependent manner. In this study, we demonstrate that mechanical loading in the form of hydrostatic pressure increases heat shock gene expression in human chondrocyte-like cells. The response to continuous high hydrostatic pressure was characterized by elevated mRNA and protein levels of Hsp70, without activation of HSF1 and transcriptional induction of hsp70 gene. The increased expression of Hsp70 was mediated through stabilization of hsp70 mRNA molecules. Interestingly, in contrast to static pressurization, cyclic hydrostatic loading did not result in the induction of heat shock genes. Our findings show that hsp70 gene expression is regulated posttranscriptionally without transcriptional induction in chondrocyte-like cells upon exposure to high continuous hydrostatic pressure. We suggest that the posttranscriptional regulation in the form of hsp70 mRNA stabilization provides an additional mode of heat shock gene regulation that is likely to be of significant importance in certain forms of stress.
Cartilage↗
Conventional and novel PKC isoenzymes modify the heat-induced stress response but are not activated by heat shock.
In mammalian cells, the heat-induced stress response is mediated by the constitutively expressed heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF1). Upon exposure to elevated temperatures, HSF1 undergoes several post-translational modifications, including inducible phosphorylation or hyperphosphorylation. To date, neither the role of HSF1 hyperphosphorylation in regulation of the transcriptional activity of HSF1 nor the signaling pathways involved have been characterized. We have previously shown that the protein kinase C (PKC) activator, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA), markedly enhances the heat-induced stress response, and in the present study we elucidate the mechanism by which PKC activation affects the heat shock response in human cells. Our results show that several conventional and novel PKC isoenzymes are activated during the TPA-mediated enhancement of the heat shock response and that the enhancement can be inhibited by the specific PKC inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I. Furthermore, the potentiating effect of TPA on the heat-induced stress response requires an intact heat shock element in the hsp70 promoter, indicating that PKC-responsive pathways are able to modulate the activity of HSF1. We also demonstrate that PKC is not activated by heat stress per se. These results reveal that PKC exhibits a significant modulatory role of the heat-induced stress response, but is not directly involved in regulation of the heat shock response.
Carcinogens↗
Effects of heat shock and hypoxia on protein synthesis in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) cells.
We examined the effects of heat stress (from 18 degreesC to 26 degreesC) and low oxygen tension (1% O2=1 kPa) on protein synthesis in primary cultures of hepatocytes, gill epithelial cells and fibroblast-like RTG-2 cells of rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss. All these cell types displayed elevated levels of 67, 69 and 92 kDa proteins, whereas a 104 kDa protein was induced only in RTG-2 cells. Hypoxia induced a cell-type-specific response, increasing the synthesis of 36, 39 and 51 kDa proteins in the gill epithelial cells. The regulation of the heat-shock response in fish hepatocytes showed that an HSF1-like factor is involved in the transcriptional induction of the hsp70 gene. Consequently, there was a pronounced accumulation of hsp70 mRNA. Furthermore, the kinetics of activation of DNA binding and the increase in hsp70 gene expression showed a remarkable correlation, indicating that hsp70 expression is regulated at the transcriptional level in these trout cells.
Animals↗
Thioredoxin is transcriptionally induced upon activation of heat shock factor 2.
Heat shock gene expression is differentially regulated in cells exposed to stress stimuli and in cells undergoing processes of differentiation and development. Regulation of the classical heat shock response is mediated by heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), whereas heat shock factor 2 (HSF2) is activated in certain differentiating cells, for example during hemin-mediated differentiation of human K562 erythroleukemia cells. Hence, the signaling pathways leading to induction of heat shock gene expression upon different stimuli are likely to be distinct. We have used RNA arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction to identify genes that are differentially regulated upon activation of HSF1 and HSF2. In this study, we report that thioredoxin (TRX) expression is induced in K562 cells in response to hemin in an HSF2-dependent manner. Increased TRX expression was primarily detected on the transcriptional level, subsequently leading to elevated TRX mRNA and protein levels. Hemin treatment caused no reduction in cellular glutathione concentrations, indicating that the increased TRX expression was not due to oxidative stress. Studies using cell lines where overexpression of the HSF2-beta isoform represses HSF2 activation implied that active HSF2 is required for transcriptional induction of TRX. Unlike HSF2, activation of HSF1 did not induce TRX expression. Taken together, our results suggest that HSF1 and HSF2 may regulate distinct target genes, and activation of HSF2 could be involved in the regulation of TRX expression during hemin-mediated differentiation of K562 cells.
Cell Differentiation↗
Overexpression of HSF2-beta inhibits hemin-induced heat shock gene expression and erythroid differentiation in K562 cells.
Acquisition of heat shock factor 2 (HSF2) DNA binding activity is accompanied by induced transcription of heat shock genes in hemin-treated K562 cells undergoing erythroid differentiation. Previous studies revealed that HSF2 consists of two alternatively spliced isoforms, HSF2-alpha and HSF2-beta, whose relative abundance is developmentally regulated and varies between different tissues. To investigate whether the molar ratio of HSF2-alpha and HSF2-beta isoforms is crucial for the activation of HSF2 and whether the HSF2 isoforms play functionally distinct roles during the hemin-mediated erythroid differentiation, we generated cell clones expressing different levels of HSF2-alpha and HSF2-beta. We show that in parental K562 cells, the HSF2-alpha isoform is predominantly expressed and HSF2 can be activated upon hemin treatment. In contrast, when HSF2-beta is expressed at levels exceeding those of endogenous HSF2-alpha, the hemin-induced DNA binding activity and transcription of heat shock genes are repressed, whereas overexpression of HSF2-alpha results in an enhanced hemin response. Furthermore, the hemin-induced accumulation of globin, known as a marker of erythroid differentiation, is decreased in cells overexpressing HSF2-beta. We suggest that HSF2-beta acts as a negative regulator of HSF2 activity during hemin-mediated erythroid differentiation of K562 cells.
Alternative Splicing↗
The phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate enhances the heat-induced stress response.
Induction of heat shock gene expression is mediated by specific heat shock transcription factors (HSFs), but the signaling pathways leading to activation of HSFs are poorly understood. To elucidate whether protein kinase C-responsive signaling pathways could be involved in the regulation of heat shock gene expression, we have examined the effects of the protein kinase C activator 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) on the heat-induced stress response in K562 cells. We demonstrate that TPA treatment markedly enhances heat shock gene expression during heat stress, although TPA alone does not induce the heat shock response. This TPA-mediated enhancement can initially be detected as an accelerated acquisition of DNA binding and transcriptional activity of HSF1 resulting in elevated Hsp70 protein concentrations. In the presence of TPA, the attenuation of HSF1 DNA binding activity during continuous exposure to heat shock occurs more rapidly and in concert with the appearance of newly synthesized Hsp70, which supports earlier studies on the autoregulatory role of Hsp70 in deactivation of HSF1. During heat stress, a correlation between the hyperphosphorylation of HSF1 and its transcriptional activity was observed, in both the presence and the absence of TPA. Our results show that the heat-induced stress response can be significantly modulated by activation of protein kinase C-responsive signaling pathways.
DNA↗
Heat shock response--pathophysiological implications.
All organisms exposed to environmental stress conditions share a common molecular response characterized by a dramatic change in the pattern of gene expression followed by an elevated synthesis of heat shock or stress proteins. These proteins function as molecular chaperones to protect cells from environmental stress damage by binding to partially denatured proteins, dissociating protein aggregates, and regulating the correct folding and intracellular translocation of newly synthesized polypeptides. Accumulating evidence supports a role for heat shock proteins in a number of disease states of which inflammatory reactions and ischaema provide the best studied examples. The inducible heat shock response involves transcriptional gene activation mediated by specific regulatory proteins called heat shock transcription factors, which bind to the promoter of heat shock genes in a sequence-specific manner. However, the signalling pathways leading to the activation of these transcription factors need to be characterized in more detail to be able to understand the role, cause, or consequence, of heat shock proteins in human diseases. This review presents recent progress in unravelling the regulation of heat shock gene expression in cells subjected to heat or other forms of stress. By using inflammatory responses and myocardial ischaema as examples, the putative use of heat shock proteins are discussed as targets for future therapeutic applications.
Animals↗
Cell transformation by c-Ha-rasVal12 oncogene is accompanied by a decrease in histone H1 zero and an increase in nucleosomal repeat length.
The activated c-Ha-rasVal12 oncogene is often involved in the genesis of human malignancies. We show here that in c-Ha-rasVal12 oncogene-transformed mouse NIH 3T3 fibroblasts the copy number and expression level of the mutant ras oncogene correlates with the degree of chromatin decondensation, as assessed by micrococcal nuclease (MNase) and DNase I digestion. MNase and DNase I analyses further revealed that the nucleosomal repeat lengths were different in the normal and ras oncogene-transformed cells, 162.3 bp and 178.1 bp, respectively. These chromatin changes were accompanied by alterations in the content of histone H1 zero. Furthermore, using DNase I as a probe, we discovered that serum stimulation of normal and transformed cells, synchronized by serum starvation, induces rapid reversible changes in the structure of bulk chromatin that may be linked to transcriptional activation. Our data thus indicate that cell transformation by ras is associated with specific changes in chromatin structure that make it more vulnerable, and prone to additional mutations characteristic of cancer development in vivo.
3T3 Cells↗
Deficient induction of human hsp70 heat shock gene transcription in Y79 retinoblastoma cells despite activation of heat shock factor 1.
One of the basic features of the inducible heat shock response is the activation of heat shock factor which results in the rapid transcriptional induction of the heat shock genes. Although it is widely considered that the heat shock response is ubiquitous, several reports have indicated that the transcriptional response can vary in both intensity and kinetics and often in a tissue-specific manner. Of interest have been studies on the expression of heat shock genes in the brain, particularly observations that certain cultured neuronal cells exhibit a diminished heat shock response. We demonstrate that transcription of the gene encoding a 70-kDa heat shock protein (hsp70) is diminished upon heat shock in Y79 human retinoblastoma cells (which are of neuronal origin) despite both the activation of heat shock factor 1 and induced transcription of another heat shock gene, hsp90 alpha. This uncoupling of stress-induced transcription of the hsp70 and hsp90 alpha genes, which are typically coordinately regulated in response to stress, appears to be due to the selective inability of trans-acting factors, including heat shock factor 1, to bind in vivo to the hsp70 promoter as the result of a chromatin-mediated effect.
DNA-Binding Proteins↗
Arachidonate is a potent modulator of human heat shock gene transcription.
Cell and tissue injury activate the inflammatory response through the action(s) of arachidonic acid and its metabolites, leading to the expression of acute-phase proteins and inflammatory cytokines. At the molecular level, little is known how arachidonic acid regulates the inflammatory response. As inflammation is also associated with local increase in tissue temperatures, we examined whether arachidonic acid was directly involved in the heat shock response. Extracellular exposure to arachidonic acid induced heat shock gene transcription in a dose-dependent manner via acquisition of DNA-binding activity and phosphorylation of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1). In addition, exposure of cells to low concentrations of arachidonic acid, which by themselves did not induce HSF1 DNA-binding activity, reduced the temperature threshold for HSF1 activation from elevated temperatures which are not physiologically relevant (> 42 degrees C) to temperatures which can be attained during the febrile response (39-40 degrees C). These results indicate that elevated heat shock gene expression is a direct consequence of an arachidonic acid-mediated cellular response.
Arachidonic Acid↗
Human heat shock factors 1 and 2 are differentially activated and can synergistically induce hsp70 gene transcription.
Two members of the heat shock transcription factor (HSF) family, HSF1 and HSF2, both function as transcriptional activators of heat shock gene expression. However, the inducible DNA-binding activities of these two factors are regulated by distinct pathways. HSF1 is activated by heat shock and other forms of stress, whereas HSF2 is activated during hemin-induced differentiation of human K562 erythroleukemia cells, suggesting a role for HSF2 in regulating heat shock gene expression under nonstress conditions such as differentiation and development. To understand the distinct regulatory pathways controlling HSF2 and HSF1 activities, we have examined the biochemical and physical properties of the control and activated states of HSF2 and compared these with the properties of HSF1. Our results reveal that the inactive, non-DNA-binding forms of HSF2 and HSF1 exist primarily in the cytoplasm of untreated K562 cells as a dimer and monomer, respectively. This difference in the control oligomeric states suggests that the mechanisms used to control the DNA-binding activities of HSF2 and HSF1 are distinct. Upon activation, both factors acquire DNA-binding activity, oligomerize to a trimeric state, and translocate into the nucleus. Interestingly, we find that simultaneous activation of both HSF2 and HSF1 in K562 cells subjected to hemin treatment followed by heat shock results in the synergistic induction of hsp70 gene transcription, suggesting a novel level of complex regulation of heat shock gene expression.
Cell Compartmentation↗
Stress induction of the mammalian GRP78/BiP protein gene: in vivo genomic footprinting and identification of p70CORE from human nuclear extract as a DNA-binding component specific to the stress regulatory element.
GRP78, also known as BiP, is one of the better-characterized molecular chaperones. It has been implicated in protein folding and also calcium sequestration in the endoplasmic reticulum. When the cells are subjected to endoplasmic reticulum stress, in particular the depletion of stored calcium and/or the accumulation of abnormal proteins, the rate of transcription of grp78 is enhanced. Previous studies have shown that the core region of the rat grp78 promoter (-170 to -135), which is 95% conserved with the human grp78 core (-133 to -98), is one of the key regulatory elements. Using ligation-mediated PCR, we have found that there are specific changes in factor occupancy after stress induction and the major changes occur within a cluster of bases located in the 3' half of the grp core, whereas other regulatory elements are constitutively occupied. This inducible binding to the 3' half of the human grp78 core region is observed under diverse stress signals, suggesting a common mechanism for the grp stress response. Nonetheless, the lack of constitutive in vivo protection at this region is not due to the absence of a binding factor in nuclear extracts. Using in vitro gel mobility shift assays, we detected a constitutive binding activity which exhibits specificity and affinity to the stress-inducible region. Through sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis size fractionation and renaturation analysis, the activity is found in polypeptides with molecular sizes of 65 to 75 kDa. After a three-step purification scheme including core affinity column chromatography, we purified p70CORE, which is about 70 kDa in its monomeric form. The purified p70CORE is sufficient to form a complex specific to the stress-inducible region.
Base Sequence↗
Ca2+ and Zn2+ dependence of DNA synthesis in untransformed and in Ha-ras(val-12)-expressing NIH 3T3 cells.
The role of Ca2+ and Zn2+ in the initiation of DNA synthesis in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and c-Ha-ras(val-12) oncoprotein-expressing (NIH 3T3) cells has been studied. Entrapment of the Ca2+ chelator, BAPTA (30 microM), into the cells totally blocked a serum-induced rise in cytosolic free Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) as determined with fura-2. Serum starvation for 24 h considerably reduced DNA synthesis in control NIH 3T3 fibroblasts. BAPTA treatment reduced serum-induced DNA synthesis and totally inhibited platelet-derived growth factor-induced DNA synthesis in these cells. DNA synthesis of the c-Ha-ras(val-12)-expressing fibroblasts was little affected by serum starvation and unaffected by entrapment of BAPTA into the cells. Intracellular Zn2+ was measured using the fluorescent probe TSQ in intact cells. As determined using image analysis the TSQ fluorescence was distributed throughout the cytoplasm and concentrated around the nucleus. The permeable Zn2+ chelator, TPEN, at a concentration of 10 microM, caused a maximal reduction in TSQ-available Zn2+. This concentration of TPEN totally blocked DNA synthesis both in control and c-Ha-ras(val-12)-expressing fibroblasts. Upon addition of 11 microM Zn2+ DNA synthesis was restored even after TPEN addition. [3H]Thymidine incorporation itself was also sensitive to TPEN treatment. The results suggest that c-Ha-ras(val-12)-induced proliferation is independent of changes in [Ca2+]i. A specific role of Zn2+ in c-Ha-ras-induced proliferation is unlikely since ras-expressing and control cells reacted similarly to Zn2+ deprivation. There seems to be a constant requirement for the presence of Zn2+ in cell proliferation.
3T3 Cells↗
Antiproliferative prostaglandins activate heat shock transcription factor.
Treatment of human K562 erythroleukemia cells with the antiproliferative prostaglandin A1 results in the elevated transcription of two heat shock genes, HSP70 and HSP90. Parallel with increased heat shock gene transcription is the activation of heat shock transcription factor. Heat shock transcription factor levels are induced within 60 min after prostaglandin A1 addition to levels similar to that achieved during heat shock. The requirement for protein synthesis for prostaglandin A1 activation of heat shock transcription factor suggests that effects on nascent protein synthesis may be involved in the signaling mechanism. Although it is unclear whether the activation of a heat shock response by prostaglandins is relevant to the biochemical properties of these natural substances, cells pretreated with prostaglandin A1 are protected against a subsequent heat shock, indicative of a thermotolerant state.
DNA-Binding Proteins↗
Effect of sodium salicylate on the human heat shock response.
Sodium salicylate, an anti-inflammatory agent, was examined for its effects on the heat shock response in cultured human cells. Salicylate activation of DNA binding by the heat shock transcription factor (HSF) was comparable to activation attained during heat shock. However, sodium salicylate did not induce heat shock gene transcription even though the HSF was bound in vivo to the heat shock elements upstream of the heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70) gene. These results reveal that activation of the heat shock transcriptional response is a multistep process. Modulation of extracellular pH augments sensitivity to salicylate-induced activation of HSF.
DNA↗