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Chronic antipsychotic drug treatment induces long-lasting expression of fos and jun family genes and activator protein 1 complex in the rat prefrontal cortex.

We have characterized the effects of chronic clozapine and haloperidol treatments on the expression of fos (c-fos, fosB, fra-2) and jun (c-jun, junB, junD) family genes in the rat forebrain. The effects of chronic (17d) clozapine and haloperidol on mRNA expression were determined two hours, 24 hours, and six days after the last drug injection, and the DNA-binding activity of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) complex was studied after washout periods of 24 hours and six days. Chronic clozapine treatment with a 6 d washout period induced the expression of several fos and jun family genes in cortical regions, including the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and in the caudate putamen and nucleus accumbens. Moreover, the DNA-binding activity of the AP-1 complex was greatly increased in the anterior cingulate cortex-PFC in mobility shift assays already after 24 h, and remained increased after a 6d washout period. Chronic administration of haloperidol upregulated fos and jun family mRNA expression that was detectable 24 h and 6 d after cessation of the treatment mainly in the cortex. However, the DNA-binding activity of the AP-1 complex was not altered in the anterior cingulate cortex-PFC by chronic haloperidol administration at any of the time points studied. Thus, chronic treatments with clozapine and haloperidol induce a long-lasting enhancement of fos and jun family transcription factors that continues for several days after the cessation of the treatments in the cortex. These lasting effects might represent events that are potentially involved in the mechanisms of antipsychotic drug action.

Animals↗

Mannosylerythritol lipid induces characteristics of neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells through an ERK-related signal cascade.

Rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells undergo neuronal differentiation in response to nerve growth factor (NGF). The differentiation involves protein kinase cascades that include the kinases MEK and ERK, as well as activation of the transcription factors c-Jun and c-Fos. We show here, that exposure of PC12 cells to mannosylerythritol lipid (MEL), a yeast extracellular glycolipid, enhances the activity of acetylcholinesterase and interrupts the cell cycle at the G1 phase, with resulting outgrowth of neurites and partial cellular differentiation. Treatment with MEL stimulates the phosphorylation of ERK to a similar extent as treatment with NGF, although, the appearance of phosphorylated ERK is somewhat delayed. Both the MEL-induced outgrowth of neurites and the increase in the activity of acetylcholinesterase are prevented by PD98059, a specific inhibitor of MEK. Northern blotting analysis of c-jun transcripts and analysis of transcription in PC12 cells of a c-jun/CAT reporter construct demonstrated a significant increase in the rate of transcription of the c-jun gene upon treatment with MEL. The sequence elements required for the MEL-mediated activation of transcription of the c-jun gene are located between nucleotides -126 and -79 in the 5' flanking region. Our results suggest that MEL induces characteristics of neuronal differentiation in PC12 cells, with transactivation of the c-jun gene, via an ERK-related signal cascade that is partially overlapping the pathways activated in response to NGF. These results might provide the groundwork for the use of microbial extracellular glycolipids as novel reagents for the treatment of cancer cells.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

A daily rhythm of activator protein-1 activity in the rat pineal is dependent upon trans-synaptic induction of JunB.

The daily cycle of phenotypic variation in the mammalian pineal provides a unique model for the investigation of the molecular mechanisms that regulate neurotransmitter synthesis. In the rat, a circadian adrenergic mechanism directs a change in serotonin metabolism that results in the nocturnal production of melatonin. Activity of the activator protein-1 transcriptional regulatory complex, as demonstrated by band-shift assays of rat pineal gland extracts, has now been shown to exhibit a rhythm, in vivo, which is temporally correlated with the rhythm of melatonin synthesis. Thus, nocturnal activator protein-1 activity (23.00 h) is markedly elevated, being 8-fold higher than the level of light-phase activity (P < 0.005). The nocturnal activator protein-1 protein complex is induced through a trans-synaptic, beta-adrenoceptor-linked mechanism and is characterized by the prolonged participation of JunB as demonstrated using antibodies for specific activator protein-1 proteins. Indeed, JunB appears to be a major component of nocturnal changes in activator protein-1 activity, JunD forming an additional, constitutive component which is not affected by the nocturnal adrenergic signal. The alpha 1-adrenoreceptor-linked c-Fos protein, which is coordinately induced with JunB, does not form a stable component of nocturnal activator protein-1 activity. In contrast, parallel experiments showed that c-Fos does form a major component of the hippocampal activator protein-1 complex that is induced in rats following kainic acid treatment. In the pineal, a similar, although not identical, pattern of activator protein-1 activation has also been demonstrated in cultured glands following treatment with norepinephrine. Immunoblotting has demonstrated parallel accumulation of JunB and c-Fos protein in pineal nuclear fractions following stimulation both in vivo and in vitro. The results provide evidence of posttranscriptional selection of neurotransmitter-stimulated activator protein-1 protein complexes, a mechanism which complements the differential induction of fos and jun genes in the pineal, and serves to generate a specific activator protein-1 transcription factor complex. This finding has general implications for the functional interpretation of fos and jun gene induction in neuronal systems. The stable JunB complex demonstrated here may be considered as one component of a timing mechanism which acts to perpetuate synaptic signals and thereby maintain an appropriate period of nocturnal pineal function.

Animals↗

1alpha,25-dehydroxyvitamin D3 synergism toward transforming growth factor-beta1-induced AP-1 transcriptional activity in mouse osteoblastic cells via its nuclear receptor.

The present study demonstrates 1alpha,25-dehydroxyvitamin D3 (1alpha-25-(OH)2D3) synergism toward transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1-induced activation protein-1 (AP-1) activity in mouse osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells via the nuclear receptor of the vitamin. 1alpha-25-(OH)2D3 synergistically stimulated TGF-beta1-induced expression of the c-jun gene in the cells but not that of the c-fos gene. We actually showed by a gel mobility shift assay 1alpha-25-(OH)2D3 synergism of TGF-beta1-induced AP-1 binding to the 12-(O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate response element (TRE). 1alpha-25-(OH)2D3 markedly stimulated the transient activity of TGF-beta1-induced AP-1 in the cells transfected with a TRE-chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene. Also, a synergistic increase in TGF-beta1-induced CAT activity was observed in the cells cotransfected with an expression vector encoding vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) and the reporter gene. However, the synergistic CAT activity was inhibited by pretreatment with VDR antisense oligonucleotides. In addition, in a Northern blot assay, we observed 1alpha-25-(OH)2D3 synergism of TGF-beta1-induced expression of the c-jun gene in the cells transfected with the VDR expression vector and also found that the synergistic action was clearly blocked by VDR antisense oligonucleotide pretreatment. The present study strongly suggests a novel positive regulation by 1alpha-25-(OH)2D3 of TGF-beta1-induced AP-1 activity in osteoblasts via "genomic action."

Animals↗

The Moloney leukemia retroviral long terminal repeat trans-activates AP-1-inducible genes and AP-1 transcription factor binding.

Moloney murine leukemia virus (Mo-MuLV) is a thymotropic and leukemogenic retrovirus which causes T lymphomas. The long terminal repeat (LTR) of Mo-MuLV affects the regulation of a number of cellular genes, including collagenase IV, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and c-jun genes, all of which contain 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive element consensus sites within their promoters. We report here that Mo-MuLV stimulates the collagenase IV gene through transcription factor AP-1, and that the expression of a subgenomic portion of Mo-MuLV LTR alone is sufficient for this effect. Transient or stable expression of the viral LTR increases cellular AP-1 DNA binding activity. The collagenase IV 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate-responsive element consensus sequence was shown to be required for this trans-activation. Deletions or mutations of this consensus site which abolished AP-1 binding also abolished trans-activation by the LTR. Transient or stable transfection of the viral LTR into cells stimulated c-jun gene expression, suggesting one mechanism whereby the viral LTR may induce cellular AP-1 activity. Thus, the Mo-MuLV LTR, through activation of the transcription factor AP-1, is capable of regulating cellular gene expression, including the induction of proto-oncogenes. This activity may be relevant to the mechanisms whereby retroviruses which do not contain oncogenes induce neoplasia.

3T3 Cells↗

Induction of FOS and JUN proteins by adrenocorticotropin and phorbol ester but not by 3',5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate derivatives.

We report the results of an extensive kinetic analysis of the effects of ACTH, cAMP derivatives (dibutyryl cAMP and 8-bromo-cAMP) and phorbol ester (phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate) on the expression of fos and jun gene family members at the mRNA (Northern hybridization) and protein levels (immunoprecipitation and indirect immunofluorescence) in the mouse Y-1 adrenocortical cell line. FOS and JUN proteins are induced by ACTH independently of cell cycle stage. c-Fos, fos-B, fra-1, fra-2, c-jun, and jun-B genes are induced by ACTH, the kinetic profiles for mRNAs and respective protein products being similar, except for a 1-h protein delay. Jun-D mRNA is an exception, being constitutively expressed. However, JUN D protein is induced by ACTH. phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate closely mimics these inductive effects of ACTH. On the other hand, cAMP derivatives are not effective in inducing the fos and jun genes, except for fra-2 mRNA, JUN D protein, and to some extent JUN B protein. Clearly, ACTH is endowed with the versatile capability of modulating fos and jun gene expression, suggesting that AP-1 transcription factors play a role in ACTH mechanisms of action. ACTH receptors are likely to activate signaling routes other than the classical cAMP/protein kinase A in order to induce FOS and JUN proteins.

8-Bromo Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate↗

Expression of the jun family of genes in human ovarian cancer and normal ovarian surface epithelium.

The jun genes (c-jun, jun-B and jun-D) play a role in critical cell functions such as proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. We documented jun expression at the mRNA and protein level in human ovarian cancer tissues (n=28), surface epithelial cells of normal ovaries (n=14) and ovarian cancer cell lines (n=6). Almost all of ovarian tumors as well as normal ovaries concomitantly express c-jun, jun-B, and jun-D mRNA. Immunohistochemistry was less sensitive and revealed nuclear c-Jun and Jun-B proteins in the malignant epithelial cells of respectively 38% and 11% of ovarian tumors and in the surface epithelium of a normal premenopausal ovary. In cultured ovarian cancer cells, c-jun and jun-B expression is inducible by serum and TPA and is therefore not constitutive. The c-jun and jun-B proteins therefore play a role both in differentiation of the normal ovarian surface epithelium, as well as in the proliferation of epithelial ovarian cancer cells. High jun-B expression relates to a more malignant phenotype both in vitro and in vivo. The jun-D gene is suppressed in ovarian cancer cells as compared to normal ovarian surface epithelial cells in situ and in vitro. Downregulation of jun-D might therefore be part of the malignant ovarian epithelial cell phenotype.

3T3 Cells↗

Sequence-specific and domain-specific DNA repair in xeroderma pigmentosum and Cockayne syndrome cells.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) and Cockayne syndrome (CS) cells have specific DNA repair defects. We had previously analyzed repair rates of cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers at nucleotide resolution along the human JUN gene in normal fibroblasts and found very efficient repair of sequences near the transcription initiation site but slow repair along the promoter. To investigate sequence-specific repair rate patterns in XP and CS cells, we conducted a similar analysis in XPA, XPB, XPC, XPD, and CSB fibroblasts. XPA cells were almost completely repair-deficient at all sequences analyzed. XPC cells repaired only the transcribed DNA strand beginning at position -20 relative to the transcription start site. Both XBP and XPD cells were deficient in repair of nontranscribed DNA and also very inefficiently repaired the transcribed strand including sequences near the transcription start site. CSB cells exhibited rapid repair near the transcription initiation site but were deficient in repair of sequences encountered by RNA polymerase during elongation (beginning at position +20). Since transcription of the JUN gene was UV-induced in all fibroblast strains, including CSB, the defective repair of the transcribed strand in CSB cannot be explained by a lack of transcription; rather, it appears to be a true DNA repair defect.

Base Sequence↗

Effects of neonatal diethylstilbestrol exposure on c-fos and c-jun protooncogene expression in the mouse uterus.

Quantitative and cell-type-specific expression of c-fos and c-jun genes after 17beta-estradiol (E2) stimulation, was investigated in the uteri of neonatally diethylstilbestrol (DES)-exposed and ovariectomized adult mice (neoDES-mice), employing Northern blot analysis, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization. The c-fos mRNA level before E2 injection (at baseline) was about 2.2-fold higher in neoDES-mice than in vehicle-treated control mice. In controls, E2 treatment transiently increased c-fos mRNA levels, showing a peak value (15.8-fold relative to the baseline) after 2 hours. In neoDES-mice, c-fos mRNA level reached a peak showing a 2.1-fold increase compared with its baseline value 1 hour after E2 injection. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization revealed that c-fos protein (Fos) and mRNA are induced in the epithelium and vascular endothelium in both groups. Most uterine epithelia of neoDES-mice revealed low sensitivity to the c-fos expression after E2 administration compared with those of vehicle-treated controls, whereas few epithelia showed high c-fos mRNA expression even at baseline. The c-jun mRNA concentration in the neoDES-mice uteri at baseline was 70% of that in vehicle-treated controls. At 1 hour after E2 injection, c-jun mRNA levels increased 1.8-fold in controls and 1.3-fold in the neoDES-mice relative to each baseline value. There were no significant differences in the distribution pattern of c-jun protein (Jun) and mRNA in the uteri of either groups; E2 stimulated c-jun mRNA expression in the stromal and myometrial cells but suppressed it in the epithelial cells, whereas intensity of c-jun immunostaining increased in the three cell types. The permanent changes in the expression of estrogen-regulated protooncogenes, c-fos and c-jun genes, by neonatal DES exposure may be responsible for the wide range of abnormalities in the genital tract of mature animals.

Animals↗

Embryonic stem (ES) cells lacking functional c-jun: consequences for growth and differentiation, AP-1 activity and tumorigenicity.

The proto-oncogene c-jun encodes the major component of the transcription factor AP-1 and is thought to have important functions in cell proliferation and differentiation as well as in the cellular response to a variety of external stimuli. To investigate directly the role of c-jun in growth, differentiation and tumorigenicity we generated mouse embryonic stem (ES) cell lines in which both copies of the c-jun gene have been inactivated by homologous recombination. The disruption of both copies of the c-jun gene had no apparent effect on ES cell viability, growth rate and in vitro differentiation potential. Transcriptional activation of the c-jun, junB and c-fos genes following TPA/serum induction was unaffected and efficient transactivation of AP-1 reporter constructs was demonstrated in these cells. Remarkably, subcutaneous injection of ES cells lacking c-Jun into syngeneic mice led to a drastic reduction in the formation of teratocarcinomas. We propose that whereas most of the functions of c-Jun in ES cells appear to be complemented by other Jun proteins in vitro, functional c-Jun protein is essential for efficient tumor growth in vivo.

Alleles↗

Induction by adenovirus-5 E1A of the differentiation phenotype of F9 teratocarcinoma cells involves a conserved region (CR1) of E1A.

The effects of the E1A protein of adenovirus-5 on the differentiation program of F9 teratocarcinoma cells were examined by the stable introduction of plasmids that expressed wild-type or mutated forms of E1A. Constitutive expression of plasmids for most of the mutant E1As induced loss of expression of the cell-surface antigen SSEA-1 and the enhanced expression of genes specific for the differentiated phenotype of F9 cells, such as genes for laminin B1, tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) and type IV collagen, as well as the altered cell morphology that is associated with the differentiated state. However, such changes were not observed in the case of genes for mutant proteins from which a conserved region (CR1) of E1A had been deleted. Furthermore, no significant induction of expression of the c-jun gene or transactivation of the c-jun-CAT reporter gene were observed when the sequence that encodes CR1 of E1A had been deleted. A palindromic sequence element (DRE) of the c-jun promoter was essential for the E1A-mediated up-regulation of the c-jun gene. These results imply that CR1 is required for activation of the c-jun gene and that it is implicated in the growth arrest, expression of parietal endoderm-specific functions and the orderly differentiation of F9 cells.

Adenovirus E1A Proteins↗

Role of the Jun kinase pathway in the regulation of c-Jun expression and apoptosis in sympathetic neurons.

When deprived of nerve growth factor (NGF), developing sympathetic neurons die by apoptosis. This death is associated with an increase in the level of c-Jun protein and is blocked by expression of a c-Jun dominant negative mutant. Here we have investigated whether NGF withdrawal activates Jun kinases, a family of stress-activated protein kinases that can stimulate the transcriptional activity of c-Jun by phosphorylating serines 63 and 73 in the transactivation domain and which can activate c-jun gene expression. We found that sympathetic neurons contained high basal levels of Jun kinase activity that increased further after NGF deprivation. In contrast, p38 kinase, another stress-activated protein kinase that can also stimulate c-jun gene expression, was not activated after NGF withdrawal. Consistent with Jun kinase activation, we found using a phospho-c-Jun-specific antibody that c-Jun was phosphorylated on serine 63 after NGF withdrawal. Furthermore, expression of a constitutively active form of MEK kinase 1 (MEKK1), which strongly activates the Jun kinase pathway, increased c-Jun protein levels and c-Jun phosphorylation and induced apoptosis in the presence of NGF. This death could be prevented by co-expression of SEKAL, a dominant negative mutant of SAPK/ERK kinase 1 (SEK1), an activator of Jun kinase that is a target of MEKK1. In contrast, expression of SEKAL alone did not prevent c-Jun expression, increases in c-Jun phosphorylation, or cell death after NGF withdrawal. Thus, activation of Jun kinase and increases in c-Jun phosphorylation and c-Jun protein levels occur at the same time after NGF withdrawal, but c-Jun levels and phosphorylation are regulated by an SEK1-independent pathway.

Animals↗

Retinoic acid suppression of c-fos gene inhibits expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced monocyte chemoattractant JE/MCP-1 in clonal osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells.

Our previous study (Hanazawa, S., Takeshita, A., Amano, S., Semba, T., Nirazuka, T., Katoh, H., and Kitano, S. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 9526-9532) demonstrated that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) induces monocyte chemoattractant JE/MCP-1 expression via c-fos and c-jun genes following protein kinase C activation in osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. In the present study, we examined the effect of retinoic acid (RA) on the cytokine-induced JE/MCP-1 expression in the cells. RA significantly inhibited the JE/MCP-1 gene expression by at least 6 h of pretreatment, and the inhibition was pretreatment time-dependent and occurred at the transcriptional level of the JE/MCP-1 gene expression. The RA-induced inhibition of the JE/MCP-1 gene product was also evidenced by both an assay involving immunoprecipitation with JE/MCP-1-specific antiserum and an assay for monocyte chemotaxis. Also, RA stimulated the gene expression of three different subclasses of RA receptor. RA pretreatment transcriptionally suppressed the expression of the c-fos gene but not that of the c-jun gene in TNF-alpha-treated cells. Antisense oligonucleotide to c-fos gene inhibited the cytokine-induced JE/MCP-1 gene expression in the cells. Furthermore, RA inhibited activator protein-1 binding to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate-response element (TRE) in the cells treated with TNF-alpha, suggesting that RA acts as a potent negative regulator for activator protein-1 binding activity to TRE in the osteoblastic cells.

3T3 Cells↗

Stimulation of protein kinase C or protein kinase A mediated signal transduction pathways shows three modes of response among serum inducible genes.

Activation of the signal transduction pathways mediated by protein kinase A (PKA) or protein kinase C (PKC) led to different responses of several serum inducible genes including the jun gene family, c-fos, c-myc, krox 20 and krox 24. Whereas all of these genes were stimulated by the phorbol ester TPA, a chemical activator of protein kinase C, they were differently regulated upon cAMP stimulation of the PKA dependent pathway. The proto-oncogenes jun B, c-fos, and to a lesser extent jun D were stimulated by increasing the intracellular concentration of cAMP, whereas the TPA stimulation of c-jun and c-myc was inhibited under these conditions. Krox 20 and krox 24 were insensitive to this second messenger. This study allowed us to classify these growth stimulated genes into three distinct groups distinguished by their sensitivity to elevated concentrations of intracellular cAMP. The inhibition of c-jun and c-myc expression in the presence of increased cAMP levels may be at least partially responsible for the growth inhibitory effect of this agent in Balb/c-3T3 cells.

Animals↗

TGF-beta induces expression of monocyte chemoattractant JE/monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 via transcriptional factor AP-1 induced by protein kinase in osteoblastic cells.

In this work, we demonstrate the signal-transducing mechanism of TGF-beta 1 for gene expression of monocyte chemoattractant JE/monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in clonal osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells. TGF-beta 1-induced JE/MCP-1 gene expression in the cells was inhibited markedly by H-7 (1-(5-isoguinolinesulfonyl)-2-O-methylpiperazine-dihydrochloride) and staurosporine, potent inhibitors of protein kinase. TGF-beta 1-induced expression of both early proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun in the cells was also inhibited by H-7 and staurosporine. Antisense oligonucleotides to c-fos and c-jun genes inhibited significantly the cytokine-induced JE/MCP-1 gene expression. Curcumin, a specific inhibitor of c-jun/AP-1, inhibited the cytokine-induced c-jun gene expression in a dose-dependent manner, though the c-fos gene expression was not affected. TGF-beta 1 stimulated transcriptionally the JE/MCP-1 gene expression, and this stimulation was inhibited significantly by curcumin. Curcumin-induced inhibition of the JE/MCP-1 gene product was also evidenced by both an assay involving immunoprecipitation with antiserum specific for JE/MCP-1 and an assay for monocyte chemotaxis. Curcumin markedly inhibited AP-1 binding activity to 12-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate-responsive element (TRE) in the cytokine-treated cells. Furthermore, H-7 and staurosporine also inhibited the binding activity to TRE in the cells treated by the cytokine. These results demonstrate that TGF-beta 1 induces expression of monocyte chemoattractant JE/MCP-1 via the transcriptional factor AP-1 induced by protein kinase in the osteoblastic cells.

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine↗

ATF1 phosphorylation by the ERK MAPK pathway is required for epidermal growth factor-induced c-jun expression.

Epidermal growth factor induction of c-jun expression requires ATF1 and MEF2 sites in the c-jun promoter. We find that activation of the c-jun promoter through the ATF1 site requires phosphorylation of ATF1 at serine 63. A serine 63 to alanine mutation of ATF1 acts to block epidermal growth factor (EGF) induction of a transfected c-jun gene. ATF1 can be phosphorylated by mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK1), which is activated by EGF and ERK1/2. Kinase-dead MSK1 mutants blocked EGF induction of a transfected c-jun gene suggesting that MSK1 or a similar family member is required for induced c-jun expression. Use of the MEK1 inhibitor U0126 and dominant negative MEK1 further showed that MSK1 activation and c-jun induction require the ERK pathway. In contrast, a JNK inhibitor blocked EGF induction of c-jun expression but not ATF1 phosphorylation. These results show that the two MAPK pathways, ERK and JNK, are required for EGF-induced c-jun expression and that the ERK pathway acts through downstream phosphorylation of ATF1.

Activating Transcription Factor 1↗

Characteristics of c-fos and jun B gene expression in A5 cells after beta-adrenoreceptor stimulation and during the cell cycle.

The beta-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol elevates cAMP concentrations in the A5 rat salivary epithelial cell line and rapidly and transiently induces the expression of c-fos and jun B at 30 and 60 min following continuous stimulation of these cells. The induction of both genes is mediated by cAMP. We show here that the inducibility of these genes by isoproterenol or 8-BrcAMP is transcriptionally regulated and short (5 min) incubations of A5 cells with either agent is sufficient to trigger the induction of c-fos and jun B. We also have investigated the expression and inducibility of these genes during the A5 cell cycle. Both c-fos and jun B mRNA are elevated at the early phase of the cell cycle and are detectable throughout the cycle. At different stages of the cell cycle in synchronous A5 cells, both genes are as highly induced by isoproterenol or 8-BrcAMP as in asynchronous A5 cells. These studies provide the first evidence for the transcriptional regulation of c-fos and jun B by beta-adrenergic receptor stimulation or cAMP in an epithelial cell line (A5) and demonstrate the coordinate expression and inducibility of these genes at the different stages of the A5 cell cycle.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Ultraviolet irradiation, although it activates the transcription factor AP-1 in F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells, does not induce the full complement of differentiation-associated genes.

Induction of differentiation of F9 teratocarcinoma stem cells by retinoic acid and cAMP has been shown to involve the activation of the transcription factor AP-1 (a heterodimer of the proto-oncogene products c-Fos and c-Jun); moreover, stable expression of either Fos or Jun drives F9 cells into differentiation. Phorbol ester tumor promoters and short-wave-length ultraviolet (uv) irradiation are efficient inducers of AP-1 activity in various differentiated cells, but it has been shown that phorbol esters do not induce AP-1 activity in undifferentiated F9 cells. We examine here whether uv irradiation induces AP-1 activity in these cells and drives F9 cells into differentiation. We show that uv induces, in contrast to phorbol esters, the formation of active AP-1 by activating transcription from the c-jun gene. Ultraviolet-induced AP-1 drives transcription from AP-1-dependent promoters coding for differentiation-associated proteins (such as urokinase and keratin 18). However, in uv-treated cells, these genes are activated earlier and to a greater extent than in cells treated with retinoic acid and cAMP. More importantly, uv, in contrast to retinoic acid and cAMP, does not induce the accumulation of collagen alpha 1 (IV) and laminin B1 RNA. Our data suggest that the c-jun gene in F9 cells is accessible to immediate activation, but that uv-induced AP-1 activation does not suffice to induce the full program of F9 cell differentiation.

Animals↗