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Increase in E-rosettes after transfer factor (TF) treatment: fractionation of TF.

The effect of transfer factor (TF) on E-rosettes (ER) was studied in vivo in a patient with Hodgkin's disease. Transfer factor was given in doses of 10 units/sq m intramuscularly. The ER forming cells and the ER scores were determined. The ER score method took into account the number of erythrocytes in each rosette. The increase in ER score was maximum at 24 hours and it declined during the following one to two weeks. It was suggested that TF may have to be given more frequently than indicated by the persistence of skin reactivity. TF was fractionated with high pressure liquid chromatography. Fraction 2 increased ER in a patient with Schwannoma. Non-specificity of TF was also discussed.

Adult↗

Binding of galectin-1 (gal-1) to the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) antigen on trophoblast cells and inhibition of proliferation of trophoblast tumor cells in vitro by gal-1 or an anti-TF antibody.

Galectin-1 (gal-1), a member of the mammalian beta-galactoside-binding proteins, recognizes preferentially Galbeta1-4GlcNAc sequences of several cell surface oligosaccharides. We demonstrate histochemically that the lectin recognizes appropriate glycotopes on the syncytiotrophoblast and extravillous trophoblast layer from second trimester human placenta and on BeWo chorion carcinoma cells. Gal-1 binding to BeWo cells was diminished by the Thomsen-Friedreich (TF)-disaccharide (Galbeta1-3GalNAc-) conjugated to polyacrylamide (TF-PAA). Gal-1 also inhibited BeWo cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Similar antiproliferative effects were also observed with an anti-TF monoclonal antibody (mAb, A78-G/A7). Therefore, we conclude that ligation of Galbeta1-4GlcNAc and Galbeta1-3GalNAc epitopes on BeWo cells may have regulatory effects on cell proliferation.

Antibodies↗

Lack of ceramide generation in TF-1 human myeloid leukemic cells resistant to ionizing radiation.

The mechanism(s) by which ionizing radiation (IR) induces cell death is of fundamental importance in understanding cell sensitivity and resistance. Here we evaluated the response to IR of two subclones of the autonomous human erythromyeloblastic cell line TF-1: TF-1-34 (which expresses CD34) and TF-1-33 (which lacks CD34). In clonogenic assays, TF-1-34 cells were found to be relatively less sensitive to IR compared to TF-1-33 cells based on the D0 determination (3.01 vs 1.56 Gy). Furthermore, after IR at 12 Gy, TF-1-33 cell viability decreased by approximately 50% within 24 h, whereas TF-1-34 cell growth was unaffected during this time. Gradual loss of TF-1-34 cell viability was observed only after 48 h. Morphological and molecular analysis revealed that TF-1-33 cells died of apoptosis, and TF-1-34 cells of delayed reproductive cell death. While IR produced comparable amounts of DNA double strand breaks (DSB) in both cell lines, TF-1-34 retained DSB much longer than TF-1-33 suggesting that radioresistance and the defective apoptotic response of TF-1-34 cells was not related to a higher DNA repair capacity. However, the lack of an apoptotic response in TF-1-34 was correlated to the absence of a sphingomyelin (SM)-ceramide (CER) signaling pathway. Indeed, IR triggered in TF-1-33 cells but not in TF-1-34, SM hydrolysis (25% at 12 Gy) and CER generation (>50%) through the activation of neutral but not acid sphingomyelinase. Synthetic cell permeate CER induced apoptosis in both TF-1-33 and TF-1-34 cells. This study indicates that alterations of the SM-CER signaling pathway can significantly influence the cell death process as well as the survival of acute myeloid leukemia cells after IR exposure.

Antimetabolites↗

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TF-505, a novel nonsteroidal 5alpha-reductase inhibitor, in normal subjects treated with single or multiple doses.

AIMS: To assess the tolerability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of a novel nonsteroidal and noncompetitive inhibitor of type I and type II 5alpha-reductases, (-)-(S)-4-[1-[4-[1-(4-isobutylphenyl) butoxy]benzoyl]indolizin-3-yl]butyric acid (TF-505), after single and multiple oral doses in healthy volunteers. METHODS: In the single-dose study, six young adult males in each dose group received 25 mg or 50 mg of TF-505, and six older males (>or= 40 years) in each dose group received 75 mg or 100 mg of TF-505. The subjects were given the drug in ascending dose and in the fasting state. Six subjects also received 50 mg of TF-505 after breakfast in a two-period crossover manner. In the multiple-dose study, six older males in each dose group received 12.5 mg or 25 mg TF-505 after breakfast daily for 7 days. Plasma concentrations of TF-505, dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone were measured. The pharmacokinetics of TF-505 were analysed by a compartment model with first-order absorption, first-order elimination and a lag time. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic relationships were evaluated by indirect response modelling with inhibition of input. RESULTS: Maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) and the area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) increased proportionately after the single dose up to 50 mg and with the multiple doses. Linearity was not detected between 75 and 100 mg of TF-505. Dose dependency was also noted for the effect of TF-505 on DHT concentrations following single doses up to 50 mg and multiple doses. Plasma DHT concentrations decreased maximally to 58.2, 49.5, 54.2 and 49.8% of basal values at 8-12 h after single administration of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg TF-505, respectively, and to 60.5 and 49.4% at the 7th and 5th dose following multiple doses of 12.5 and 25 mg TF-505, respectively. The predicted effect curves matched the observed data when the indirect response model was applied to the time course of the suppressant effect of TF-505 on plasma DHT concentrations after both the single and multiple studies. Fifty percent inhibitory concentrations (IC50) of 0.82, 1.48, 1.31 and 0.88 micro g ml(-1), zero-order rate constants for the onset of plasma DHT concentration changes (kin) of 17.8, 17.4, 17.0 and 10.7% h(-1) and first-order rate constants for increase in plasma DHT concentrations to basal values (kout) of 0.17, 0.16, 0.17 and 0.10 h(-1) for the single study at doses of 25, 50, 75 and 100 mg, respectively, were attained. In the multiple-dose study, IC50s were 1.74 and 1.49 micro g ml(-1) for the 12.5 and 25 mg doses, respectively. No serious adverse events related to TF-505 were observed. CONCLUSIONS: TF-505 was well tolerated in healthy male volunteers. Accumulation of TF-505 in plasma was not observed during multiple dosing. The indirect response model described the relationships between pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of TF-505. Such modelling is expected to yield an appropriate dosage regimen in subsequent clinical trials.

3-Oxo-5-alpha-Steroid 4-Dehydrogenase↗

Alteration of the CD34+ Tf-1 beta cell line profile in response to long-term exposure to IL-15.

Interleukin 15 (IL-15) is a cytokine with many functional characteristics that are similar to IL-2. Most of the functional activities that IL-2 and IL-15 support have been evaluated in short-term assays. It was our intention, then, to determine the long-term effects of IL-15 in comparison to IL-2. These studies were performed using the growth factor-dependent myelomonocytic cell line, Tf-1, which has been well characterized with regard to morphology, CD marker expression, responses to certain growth factors and cytokines (GM-CSF, IL-4, erythropoietin), and can differentiate through the myeloid and erythroid lineages. In order to study IL-2 and IL-15 responses, Tf-1 cells were retrovirally infected with the IL-2R beta chain gene as a means to confer IL-2 responsiveness to this cell type. The results of this study demonstrate that retroviral infection of Tf-1 successfully generated a stable IL-2 responsive cell line, Tf-1 beta, without interfering with the original characteristics of the Tf-1 cell. Tf-1 beta cells respond functionally to both IL-2 and IL-15. When Tf-1 beta cells are grown for 8 weeks in IL-2 (Tf-1 beta 2), rather than GM-CSF, the original morphology, CD marker expression, esterase activity and proliferative response is unaltered in comparison to that of the original Tf-1 beta line maintained in GM-CSF. However, long-term growth of Tf-1 beta in IL-15 (Tf-1 beta 15) results in morphological alterations, downregulation of CD33, CD38, and HLA-DR, and a decreased response to IL-15 in comparison to Tf-1 beta 2. These studies support the concept that retroviral infection, even when it confers new functions upon a cell, does not necessarily alter all other functions, as assessed by evaluation of its phenotypic profile. Furthermore, the production of the Tf-1 beta 2 and Tf-1 beta 15 sublines demonstrates that IL-2 and IL-15 can support long-term cell growth. However, this long-term growth in IL-15 leads to subtle alterations in the cell profile that are not seen with IL-2, suggesting that distinctions in IL-2 and IL-15 function do exist. Further study of the Tf-1 beta 15 cell line will be useful to clarify these functional distinctions between IL-2 and IL-15.

ADP-ribosyl Cyclase↗

Characterization of a unique factor-independent variant derived from human factor-dependent TF-1 cells: a transformed event.

A factor-independent variant (TF-1a) has been isolated from the factor-dependent TF-1 cell line. The subline has been grown continuously in culture for > 1.5 years without added cytokines. The cells retain the ability to respond to multicytokines, with a different response pattern from its parental cell line. The TF-1 cells appeared singly in liquid culture. In contrast. TF-1a cells formed aggregates which increased markedly in size and in number upon TGFbeta1 treatment and showed a diminished TGFbeta-mediated growth inhibition. TF-1a, but not TF-1 cells, formed colonies in soft agar culture in the absence of any added growth factors, and developed the capacity to generate an invasive tumor(s) in nude mice. There was a constitutive activation of MAPK and MEK in TF-1a but not in TF-1 cells, which may be one of the mechanisms leading to factor-independent growth of TF-1a cells. Phenotypically, TF-1 cells were CD34+ /CD38+, whereas TF-1a cells were CD34+ /CD38-. This suggests that TF-1a may represent a less mature hematopoietic cell than TF-1. In conclusion, TF-1a is different from TF-1 in many important aspects which are associated with neoplastic transformation. The variant appears to be an excellent model for studying the process of progressive malignant transformation of myeloid cells and for studying signal pathways involved in the spontaneous and factor-induced growth of the cells.

Animals↗

Tissue factor expression in human arterial smooth muscle cells. TF is present in three cellular pools after growth factor stimulation.

Tissue factor (TF) is a transmembrane glycoprotein that initiates the coagulation cascade. Because of the potential role of TF in mediating arterial thrombosis, we have examined its expression in human aortic and coronary artery smooth muscle cells (SMC). TF mRNA and protein were induced in SMC by a variety of growth agonists. Exposure to PDGF AA or BB for 30 min provided all of the necessary signals for induction of TF mRNA and protein. This result was consistent with nuclear runoff analyses, demonstrating that PDGF-induced TF transcription occurred within 30 min. A newly developed assay involving binding of digoxigenin-labeled FVIIa (DigVIIa) and digoxigenin-labeled Factor X (DigX) was used to localize cellular TF. By light and confocal microscopy, prominent TF staining was seen in the perinuclear cytoplasm beginning 2 h after agonist treatment and persisting for 10-12 h. Surface TF activity, measured on SMC monolayers under flow conditions, increased transiently, peaking 4-6 h after agonist stimulation and returning to baseline within 16 h. Peak surface TF activity was only approximately 20% of total TF activity measured in cell lysates. Surface TF-blocking experiments demonstrated that the remaining TF was found as encrypted surface TF, and also in an intracellular pool. The relatively short-lived surface expression of TF may be critical for limiting the thrombotic potential of intact SMC exposed to growth factor stimulation. In contrast, the encrypted surface and intracellular pools may provide a rich source of TF under conditions associated with SMC damage, such as during atherosclerotic plaque rupture or balloon arterial injury.

Aorta↗

Expression of the Thomsen-Friedenreich (TF) tumor antigen in human abort placentas.

The Thomsen-Friedenreich antigen (TF), or more precisely epitope, has been known as a pancarcinoma antigen. It consists of galactose-beta1-3-N-acetylgalactose. We have already described the expression of TF in the normal placenta. TF is expressed by the syncytium and by extravillous trophoblast cells. In this study, we investigated the expression of TF in the abort placenta. Frozen samples of human abort placentas (12 placentas), obtained from the first and second trimesters of pregnancy and, for comparison, samples of normal placentas (17 placentas) from the first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy, were used. Expression of TF was investigated by immunohistochemical methods. For identification of TF-positive cells in abort placentas, immunofluorescence methods were used. Evaluation of simple and double immunofluorescence was performed on a laser scanning microscope. Furthermore, we isolated trophoblast cells from first and third trimester placentas and evaluated cytokeratin 7 and Muc1 expression by immunofluorescence methods. We observed expression of TF antigen in the syncytiotrophoblasts layer of the placenta in all three trimesters of pregnancy in normal and abort placentas evaluated by immunohistochemical methods. There was no expression of TF antigen in the decidua of abort placentas. Immunofluorescence double staining of TF antigen and cytokeratin 7 showed reduced expression of both antigens in the abort decidua and co-expression of both antigens in the syncytiotrophoblast layer of normal and abort placentas. TF expression in the syncytiotrophoblast was reduced in abort placentas. In the isolated trophoblast cells, no TF expression was found, however, Muc1 expression was visualized. Expression of TF antigen was reduced in the first and second trimester abort decidua compared to the normal decidua during the same time of pregnancy. TF antigen was restricted to the syncytiotrophoblast and extravillous trophoblast cells in the decidua. Abort placentas expressed TF antigen on the syncytiotrophoblast layer, but with lower intensity compared to normal placentas. We found a significantly reduced co-expression of TF antigen and cytokeratin 7 in the decidua of abort placentas. These data suggested a reduction of extravillous trophoblast cells in the decidua of abort placentas. In addition, we found higher numbers of CD45-positive cells in the abort decidua compared to normal placentas.

Abortion, Induced↗

The nuclear orphan receptors COUP-TF and ARP-1 positively regulate the trout estrogen receptor gene through enhancing autoregulation.

The rainbow trout estrogen receptor (rtER) is a positively autoregulated gene in liver cells. In a previous report, we showed that upregulation is mediated by an estrogen response element (ERE) located in the proximal promoter of the gene and that a half binding site for nuclear receptors (5'-TGACCT-3') located 15 bp upstream of the ERE is involved in the magnitude of the estrogen response. We now report that the human orphan receptor COUP-TF and a COUP-TF-like protein from trout liver are able to bind to the consensus half-site. When cotransfected with the rtER gene proximal promoter, COUP-TF had no regulatory functions on its own. Interestingly, COUP-TF enhanced rtER transactivation properties in the presence of estradiol in a dose-dependent manner when cotransfected with the rtER gene promoter. Unliganded retinoid receptor heterodimers had the same helper function as COUP-TF in the presence of estradiol but were switched to repressors when the ligand all-trans-retinoic acid was added. Mutation of the consensus half-site only slightly reduced COUP-TF helper function, suggesting that it actually results from a complex mechanism that probably involves both DNA binding of COUP-TF to the promoter and protein-protein interaction with another transcription factor bound to the promoter. Nevertheless, a DNA-binding-defective mutant of COUP-TF was also defective in ER helper function. Competition footprinting analysis suggested that COUP-TF actually establishes contacts with the consensus upstream half-site and the downstream ERE half-site that would form a DR-24-like response element. Interaction of COUP-TF with the DR-24 element was confirmed in footprinting assays by using nuclear extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae expressing COUP-TF. Finally, interaction of COUP-TF with mutants of the rtER gene promoter showed that COUP-TF recognizes the ERE when the upstream half-site is mutated. These data show that COUP-TF may activate transcription through interaction with other nuclear receptors. This cross-talk between liganded nuclear receptors and orphan receptors is likely to modulate the spectrum of action of a particular ligand-receptor complex and may participate in the cell-type specificity of the ligand effect.

Animals↗

Vascular protection by chloroquine during brain tumor therapy with Tf-CRM107.

Tf-CRM107 is a conjugate of transferrin and a point mutant of diphtheria toxin that selectively kills cells expressing high levels of the transferrin receptor. Tf-CRM107 has been infused intratumorally into patients with malignant brain tumors. Although approximately half of the patients exhibit tumor responses, patients receiving higher doses of Tf-CRM107 may develop magnetic resonance image (MRI) evidence of toxicity indicative of small vessel thrombosis or petechial hemorrhage. Consistent with these clinical results we found that intracerebral injection of Tf-CRM107 into rats at total doses > or =0.025 microg causes brain damage detectable by MRI and histology. To widen the therapeutic window of Tf-CRM107, we explored ways to prevent this damage to the vasculature. We reasoned that the vasculature may be protected to a greater extent than tumor from Tf-CRM107 infused into brain parenchyma by i.v. injection of reagents with low blood-brain barrier permeability that block the toxicity of Tf-CRM107. Chloroquine, a well-characterized antimalarial drug, blocks the toxicity of diphtheria toxin and Tf-CRM107. Systemic administration of chloroquine blocked the toxicity of Tf-CRM107 infused intracerebrally in rats and changed the maximum tolerated dose of Tf-CRM107 from 0.2 to 0.3 microg. Moreover, chloroquine treatment completely blocked the brain damage detected by MRI caused by intracerebral infusion of 0.05 microg of Tf-CRM107. In nude mice bearing s.c. U251 gliomas, chloroquine treatment had little effect on the antitumor efficacy of Tf-CRM107. Thus, chloroquine treatment may be useful to reduce the toxicity of Tf-CRM107 for normal brain without inhibiting antitumor efficacy and increase the therapeutic window of Tf-CRM107 for brain tumor therapy.

Animals↗

Characterization of transferrin receptor-dependent GaC-Tf-FeN transport in human leukemic HL60 cells.

BACKGROUND: Understanding the uptake of GaC-Tf-FeN by cells will provide key insights into studies on transferrin-mediated drug delivery. METHODS: The mechanism of GaC-Tf-FeN transporting into and out of HL60 cells has been investigated by comparing transports between GaC-Tf-FeN and apoTf by means of 125I-labeled transferrin. RESULTS: An association constant for GaC-Tf-FeN was 2 times that for apoTf. GaC-Tf-FeN and apoTf of cell surface-bound displayed similar kinetics during the uptake, but the release rates of internalized GaC-Tf-FeN and apoTf from cells were different which showed characteristic disparate. The release continued to occur during the incubation of GaC-Tf-FeN in the presence of nonradioactive apoTf. Neither NaN3 nor NH4Cl could completely block internalization of GaC-Tf-FeN, but they prevented the release of GaC-Tf-FeN from the cells. Excess cold unlabeled apoTf could overcome the block in the release due to NH4Cl but not NaN3. The binding and internalization of GaC-Tf-FeN could be competitively inhibited by nonradioactive apoTf. It implies that both bind to the same receptor on the membrane and the localization of GaC-Tf-FeN resembles that of apoTf inside cells. Pretreated cells with pronase abolished the binding of GaC-Tf-FeN significantly. CONCLUSION: On the basis of these findings, we proposed the "transferrin receptor" for the mechanism of GaC-Tf-FeN transport by HL60 cells.

Ammonium Chloride↗

The TF-603A/G gene promoter polymorphism and circulating monocyte tissue factor gene expression in healthy volunteers.

Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (-603A/G, -1322C/T, -1812C/T) and one deletion/insertion polymorphism (-1208D/I) are present in the tissue factor (TF) gene promoter sequence. These polymorphisms are in complete linkage disequilibrium, determining two haplotypes with almost equal frequency. The -603A/-1208D/-1322C/-1812C haplotype, presently defined as TF-603A, has been linked to venous thromboembolic disease, with a potentially protecting effect. The effects of the TF-603A/G gene polymorphism on monocyte gene expression and on a whole-blood clotting time (WBCT) are not known. We determined the WBCT in basal conditions (H0) and after 4 hours of LPS stimulation ex vivo (H4LPS) on blood samples from 100 young healthy caucasian male subjects on 2 visits, 7 days apart. Monocyte TF mRNA was quantified at H0 and H4LPS by real-time quantitative reverse-transcription PCR. The monocyte TF mRNA values determined at the first and second visits were concordant. In H4LPS samples, TF mRNA levels were increased 70-fold. The TF-603A haplotype was associated with 40%-lower TF mRNA levels at H0 (P=0.0002) and this association followed the same trend but was no longer significant at H4LPS. At H4LPS, TF mRNA levels were associated with WBCT shortening (P=0.0003). WBCT at H0 was not concordant over time, precluding any genotype-phenotype analysis. WBCT at H4LPS was concordant over time but was not related to the TF-603A/G polymorphism. The TF-603A/G gene promoter polymorphism thus significantly influences constitutive TF gene expression in human monocytes but has no major effect on TF gene expression or on WBCT in LPS stimulated conditions.

Adolescent↗

Immunohistochemical detection of tissue factor (TF) on paraffin sections of routinely fixed human tissue.

Tissue factor (TF), a 47 kDa transmembrane glycoprotein, is the essential receptor and cofactor for factor VII/VIIa. Its distribution in normal tissues and in tumours has been recently investigated immunohistochemically with monoclonal and polyclonal anti-TF antibodies in frozen sections. The cardinal problem of this technique is the difficulty of determining exactly the localization of the reaction product at least in certain tissues. Here, we demonstrate a method using monoclonal anti-TF antibodies to detect TF in routinely fixed, microwaved, paraffin-embedded tissues. Generally, there were no fundamental differences in TF distribution in frozen and paraffin-embedded material. However, in most cases, the paraffin sections allow a better cellular localization of TF. For example, the staining pattern for TF in both kinds of sections is identical in kidney, brain and skin. The paraffin-embedded material, however, clearly shows that TF expression is restricted to the parietal and the visceral epithelia of Bowman's capsule of glomeruli in the kidney, and to astrocytes and their processes in the brain. TF reactivity in the skin is revealed to be cell membrane-bound; in cardiomyocytes TF shows an exclusively sarcolemmal localization. The immunohistological detection of TF in paraffin sections is a powerful tool for systematic studies on the possible role of TF in the context of physiological and pathological studies.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

Differential expression of tissue factor (TF) in calcineurin inhibitor-induced nephrotoxicity and rejection--implications for development of a possible diagnostic marker.

Deposition of fibrin in the form of fibrinoid necrosis is a common feature of severe acute renal allograft rejection. The role of the coagulation system and its initiator tissue factor (TF) during this process is, however, still poorly understood. In this study, we analyzed the expression of TF in 88 renal transplants afflicted with different forms of rejection and calcineurin inhibitor-induced nephrotoxicity, to see whether there was differential expression of this protein. TF immunoreactivity was evaluated semiquantitatively in six different renal structures: the podocytes, Bowman epithelium, the endothelium of the glomeruli, the brush border of tubular cells, the thin ascending loop of Henle, and small arteries/arterioles. The TF expression of normal renal tissue (n=6) was restricted to the glomerular podocytes and Bowman epithelium, and to some extent the ascending loop of Henle. Renal allografts undergoing acute rejection (AR) of grades I-III, (n=13, n=17 and n=12, respectively) did not show any altered TF expression in the glomeruli or vascular endothelium. In the ascending loop of Henle, a reduced expression could be seen (ARI, p=0.015; and ARII, p=0.043). TF staining of the brush border of renal transplants undergoing acute cyclosporin A (CsA) nephrotoxicity (n=18) was significantly higher than in normal kidneys (p=0.0003), as well as in transplants undergoing various degrees of acute rejection (ARI, p=0.027; ARII, p=0.0012; and ARIII, p=0.0001). Tubular brush border-expressed TF was also evident in 10 of 15 allografts suffering from chronic CsA nephrotoxicity, compared to 4 out of 13 cases with chronic allograft vasculopathy (CAV), but the increase was not statistically significant relative to normal kidneys. The majority of the grafts afflicted with either of the two chronic conditions displayed a TF-positive arterial endothelium (CAV, p=0.0034; and chronic CsA nephrotoxicity, p=0.0026) relative to controls. In conclusion, these results indicate that vascular TF expression is not altered during acute rejection, but may be of importance in chronic allograft nephropathy. Furthermore, TF immunoreactivity in the tubular brush border may be specific to acute CsA nephrotoxicity and might be used as a biomarker for this condition. Further studies are required to evaluate the possible role of brush border-expressed TF in the pathogenesis of CsA nephrotoxicity.

Acute Disease↗

The orphan COUP-TF nuclear receptors are markers for neurogenesis from cnidarians to vertebrates.

In bilaterians, COUP-TF nuclear receptors participate in neurogenesis and/or CNS patterning. In hydra, the nervous system is formed of sensory mechanoreceptor cells (nematocytes) and neuronal cells, both lineages deriving from a common stem cell. The hydra COUP-TF gene, hyCOUP-TF, which encodes highly conserved DNA-binding and ligand-binding domains, belongs to the monophyletic COUP-TFs orphan receptor family (NR2F). In adult polyps, hyCOUP-TF is expressed in nematoblasts and a subset of neuronal cells. Comparative BrDU labeling analyses performed on cells expressing either hyCOUP-TF or the paired-like gene prdl-b showed that prdl-b expression corresponded to early stages of proliferation, while hyCOUP-TF was detected slightly later. HyCOUP-TF and prdl-b expressing cells disappeared in sf-1 mutants becoming "nerve-free". Moreover hyCOUP-TF and prdl-b expression was excluded from regions undergoing developmental processes. These data suggest that hyCOUP-TF and prdl-b belong to a genetic network that appeared together with neurogenesis during early metazoan evolution. The hyCOUP-TF protein specifically bound onto the evolutionarily conserved DR1 and DR5 response elements, and repressed transactivation induced by RAR:RXR nuclear receptors in a dose-dependent manner when expressed in mammalian cells. Hence, a cnidarian transcription factor can be active in vertebrate cells, implying that functional interactions between COUP-TF and other nuclear receptors were evolutionarily conserved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗