A critical role of STAT1 in streptozotocin-induced diabetic liver injury in mice: Controlled by ATF3

It is well-established that the administration of streptozotocin accelerates diabetic liver injury as well as type-I diabetes, however the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms of diabetic liver injury in a model of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced type-I diabetes. STZ administration induced type-1 diabetes and chronic liver injury was associated with increased STAT1, which is implicated in diabetic liver injury by virtue of its ability to promote hepatocyte apoptosis, in the liver and pancreas, which were all strongly inhibited in STAT1^−/– mice. Similarly, STZ-induced ATF3, a stress-inducible gene, was completely abolished in the liver of IFN-γ^−/− mice, but not in STAT1^−/− mice. Inhibition of STAT1 by siRNA or dominant-negative DNA did not affect ATF3 protein expression but blocked IFN-γ-induced ATF3 translocation from the cytosol into the nucleus. In contrast, inhibition of ATF3 by using siRNA diminished STAT1 protein expression and IFN-γ/STZ-induced hepatocyte apoptosis. Furthermore, GST pull-down and co-IP assay showed that STAT1 bound to C-terminal domain of ATF3. Such direct interaction increased the stability of STAT1 by inhibiting its ubiquitination as well as proteasome activity. Our results suggest that STAT1 is a common signaling pathway contributing to STZ-induced diabetes and diabetic liver injury. ATF3 functions as a potent regulator of STAT1 stability, accelerating STZ-induced diabetes and diabetic liver injury.     

转IE2基因荷瘤小鼠中ATF5功能影响的研究

利用转IE2基因小鼠荷瘤的方法,对肿瘤组织中ATF5转录激活因子进行定性和定量的检测,从而探究巨细胞病毒(HCMV)即刻早期蛋白IE86对ATF5功能的影响。通过鼠胶质瘤细胞GL261对转基因鼠进行荷瘤,采用RT-PCR和Western blot的方法,对荷瘤鼠的肿瘤组织中转录因子ATF5的表达量进行检测。采用RT-PCR和Western blot的方法检测荷瘤鼠肿瘤组织中转录因子ATF5的表达,结果显示,转IE2基因小鼠体内ATF5表达量较正常小鼠ATF5表达量高。ATF5在转IE2基因荷瘤鼠中呈现高表达状态,ATF5是一个与凋亡密切相关的转录因子,在凋亡、分化及发育等生理过程中发挥着重要作用。