Transcriptional repression of the human p53 gene by hepatitis B viral core protein (HBc) in human liver cells

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a causative agent of chronic and acute hepatitis, and is associated with the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). We demonstrate here that the Hepatitis B viral core protein (HBc) functions as a repressor on the promoter activity of the human p53 gene. The functional analyses of the promoter of the p53 gene by serial deletion, site-directed mutagenesis, and the heterologous promoter system revealed that the promoter activity was repressed through the E2F1-binding site (nucleotides -28 to -8) by HBc. An electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) showed that the HBc reduced the DNA-binding ability of E2F1 to the binding site of the p53 promoter. The interaction of HBc with E2F1 was also observed by glutathione S-transferase (GST) fusion protein binding assay. Furthermore, HBc represses the expression of the p53 gene in the human liver cell line HepG2. Finally, HBc and HBx synergistically repress both the promoter activity and the expression of the p53 gene in HepG2 cells. These results, together with our previous study, strongly suggest that HBc, like HBx, represses the expression of the human p53 tumor suppressor gene.     

E2F1 activates the human p53 promoter and overcomes the repressive effect of hepatitis B viral X protein (Hbx) on the p53 promoter

The functional effect of the interaction of E2F1 and hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) on the promoter of human p53 gene was studied using chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) assay. E2F1 activated the p53 promoter through E2F1 binding site. As previously reported, HBx repressed the p53 promoter through E-box. When E2F1 was cotransfected with HBx, E2F1 overcame the repressive effect of HBx on the p53 promoter through the E2F1 site. However, in the thymidine kinase (tk) heterologous promoter system with the E2F1 binding sites, cotransfection of E2F1 and HBx showed a strong synergistic activation. An in vitro interaction assay showed that E2F1 and HBx physically bind with each other. Analyses of the interaction domain with the GAL4 fusion protein showed that the pRb-binding domain of E2F1 was necessary for the functional interaction of these two proteins. Taken together, these results imply the functional inhibitory action of E2F1 on the HBV life cycle and HBV-mediated hepatocellular carcinogenesis (HCC). Therefore, the normal or enhanced function of E2F1 gene would be important in controlling the HBx function in HCC.     

Distinct E2F-mediated transcriptional program regulates p14ARF gene expression

The tumor suppressor p14(ARF) gene is induced by ectopically expressed E2F, a positive regulator of the cell cycle. The gene is expressed at low levels in normally growing cells in contrast to high levels in varieties of tumors. How p14(ARF) gene is regulated by E2F in normally growing cells and tumor cells remains obscure. Here we show that regulation of p14(ARF) gene by E2F is distinct from that of classical E2F targets. It is directly mediated by E2F through a novel E2F-responsive element that varies from the typical E2F site. The element responds to E2F activity resulting from ectopic E2F1 expression, inactivation of pRb by adenovirus E1a or shRNA, but not to phosphorylation of pRb by serum stimulation or ectopic cyclin D1/cyclin-dependent kinase-4 expression in normal human fibroblasts. The element has activity in various tumor cells with defective pRb, but not in normally growing cells. These results indicate that the distinct regulation constitutes the basis of p14(ARF) function as a tumor suppressor, discriminating abnormal growth signals caused by defects in pRb function from normal growth signals.     

HBx抑制IGFBP3转录的机制

【目的】在细胞水平上研究乙型肝炎病毒X蛋白(HBx)对胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白3(IGFBP3)转录的影响并对具体机制进行初步探索。【方法】首先采用RNA-Deep-Sequencing技术分析HepG2和乙型肝炎病毒(HBV)转基因细胞HepG2-4D14中表达差异的基因,然后通过实时定量PCR对相关基因进行验证;利用启动子报告基因分析,研究HBx对相关基因IGFBP3转录的调控;通过染色质免疫共沉淀方法,分析HBx抑制IGFBP3启动子活性的机制。【结果】RNA-Deep-Sequencing的结果表明IGFBP3在HBV转基因细胞HepG2-4D14中水平显著下调,实时定量PCR结果与RNA-Deep-Sequencing一致。进一步研究表明HBx能明显抑制IGFBP3的转录,通过实时定量PCR发现HBx对IGFBP3转录的抑制作用依赖于p53;染色质免疫共沉淀实验结果表明HBx能够通过抑制p53与IGFBP3启动子的结合,从而抑制IGFBP3的转录。IGFBP3是一种细胞周期负调控蛋白,我们推测HBx对IGFBP3水平的下调是其促进细胞增殖的途径之一。【结论】HBV能显著下调IGFBP3的转录,机制研究揭示HBV HBx通过干扰p53与IGFBP3启动子的结合进而抑制IGFBP3的转录。     

E2F and Ras synergize in transcriptionally activating p14ARF expression

The INK4a/ARF locus, which is frequently inactivated in human tumors, encodes two distinct tumor suppressive proteins, ARF and p16INK4a. ARF stabilizes and activates p53 by negating the effects of mdm2 on p53. Furthermore, its function is not restricted to the p53 pathway and it also inhibits cell proliferation in cells lacking p53. Expression of ARF is up-regulated in response to a number of oncogenic stimuli including E2F1. We show here that while oncogenic Ras does not significantly affect p1(4AR)F expression in normal human cells it activates p1(4AR)F in cells containing deregulated E2F. Moreover, oncogenic Ras and E2F1 synergize in activating p1(4AR)F expression. Activation of p1(4AR)F promoter by E2F1 persists in the absence of the consensus E2F-binding sites in this promoter, indicating that this activation also occurs through non- canonical binding sites. The activation by oncogenic Ras requires both E2F and Sp-1 activity, demonstrating the complex regulation of p14(ARF) in response to oncogenic stimuli.     

Topoisomerase IIα mediates E2F-1-induced chemosensitivity and is a target for p53-mediated transcriptional repression

Mutations of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor, pRb, or its cyclin-cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) regulatory kinases or CDK inhibitors, allows unrestrained E2F activity, leading to unregulated cell cycle progression. However, overexpression of E2F-1 also sensitizes cells to apoptosis, suggesting that targeting this pathway may be of therapeutic benefit. Enforced expression of E2F-1 in interleukin-3-dependent myeloid cells led to preferential sensitivity to the topoisomerase II inhibitor, etoposide, which was independent of p53 accumulation. Pretreatment of the E2F-1-expressing cells with ICRF-193, a second topoisomerase II inhibitor that does not cause DNA damage, protected these cells against etoposide-induced apoptosis. However, ICRF-193 cooperated with other DNA-damaging agents to induce apoptosis. Enforced expression of E2F-1 led to accumulation of p53 protein. An E2F-1 mutant that is defective in inducing cell cycle progression also induced p53, suggesting that p53 was responding directly to E2F, and not to secondary events caused by inappropriate cell cycle progression (i.e., DNA damage). Thus, topoisomerase II inhibition and DNA damage cooperate to selectively induce apoptosis in cells that have mutations in the pRb pathway.     

E2F and Ras Synergize in Transcriptionally Activating p14ARF Expression

The INK4a/ARF locus, which is frequently inactivated in human tumors, encodes two distinct tumor suppressive proteins, ARF and p16^INK4a. ARF stabilizes and activates p53 by negating the effects of mdm2 on p53. Furthermore, its function is not restricted to the p53 pathway and it also inhibits cell proliferation in cells lacking p53. Expression of ARF is up-regulated in response to a number of oncogenic stimuli including E2F1. We show here that while oncogenic Ras does not significantly affect p14^ARF expression in normal human cells it activates p14^ARF in cells containing deregulated E2F. Moreover, oncogenic Ras and E2F1 synergize in activating p14^ARF expression. Activation of p14^ARF promoter by E2F1 persists in the absence of the consensus E2F-binding sites in this promoter, indicating that this activation also occurs through non- canonical binding sites. The activation by oncogenic Ras requires both E2F and Sp-1 activity, demonstrating the complex regulation of p14^ARF in response to oncogenic stimuli.     

4-Hydroxynonenal affects pRb/E2F pathway in HL-60 human leukemic cells

4-Hydroxynonenal (HNE), a highly reactive product of lipid peroxidation, has an antiproliferative effect in several tumor cell lines and provokes alteration of cell cycle progression in HL-60 cells. HNE down-regulates c-myc expression in K562, HL-60, and MEL cells. This prompted us to study the cascade of phenomena that, starting from the CKIs expression and the phosphorylation of pRb, arrives at the E2F binding to consensus sequence in the P2 promoter of the c-myc gene. Treatment of HL-60 cells with HNE (1 microM) causes a p53-independent increase of p21(WAF1/CIP1) expression, pRb dephosphorylation, a decrease of low molecular weight E2F complexes and an increase of high molecular weight E2F complexes bound to P2 c-myc promoter. E2F4 expression is reduced by HNE treatment as well as the amount of pRb/E2F4 complexes, whereas the amount of pRb/E2F1 complexes is increased. In conclusion, HNE can affect the pRb/E2F pathway by modifying the expression of several genes involved in the control of cell proliferation.