Identification of a novel retinoic acid-responsive element within the lamin A/C promoter

A-type lamins are not present in either early embryos or the embryonal carcinoma (EC) cell line. P19 cells, which are EC cell line, are able to express A-type lamins upon retinoic acid (RA) treatment. Here we report that a novel RA-responsive element, termed lamin A/C-RA-responsive element (L-RARE), is located within the lamin A/C promoter. RA activated the luciferase activity of the reporter which had four tandem repeats of the wild-type L-RARE, while a loss of function mutant, which altered CACCCCC to CACtatC within L-RARE, did not respond. Four specific binding complexes of L-RARE, Complexes-A, -B, -C, and -D, were detected in protein extracts obtained from P19 cells treated with and without RA. Specific antibodies revealed that Sp1 and Sp3 were included in Complex-A and Complexes-B and -C, respectively. Thus, L-RARE was important in the RA-mediated activation of the lamin A/C promoter and was recognized by DNA binding proteins.     

PU.1 directly regulates retinoic acid-induced expression of RIG-G in leukemia cells

RIG-G is a retinoic acid- or interferon-induced gene with potential anti-proliferation function. However, the mechanism underlying ATRA-induced RIG-G induction is not completely understood. Here, we demonstrate that ATRA up-regulates the expression of PU.1, which in turn directly binds to the promoter and increases the expression of RIG-G gene. Luciferase reporter assay and electrophoretic mobility shift assay reveal that PU.1 preferentially binds to one of the two putative binding sites on the RIG-G promoter. Moreover, silencing of PU.1 by shRNA markedly inhibited ATRA- but not IFNα-induced expression of RIG-G. These data provide new insight into the mechanism of ATRA-induced RIG-G expression.     

TRPV1 expression and activity during retinoic acid-induced neuronal differentiation

The transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) is a Ca²⁺-permeable channel primarily expressed in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Besides its function in thermogenic nociception and neurogenic inflammation, TRPV1 is involved in cell migration, cytoskeleton re-organisation and in neuronal guidance. To explore the TRPV1 level and activity during conditions for neuronal maturation, TRPV1-expressing SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cells were differentiated into a neuronal phenotype using all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). We show that RA highly up-regulated the total and cell surface TRPV1 protein expression but the TRPV1 mRNA level was unaffected. The up-regulated receptors were localised to the cell bodies and the developed neurites. Furthermore, RA increased both the basal intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration by 30% as well as the relative capsaicin-induced Ca²⁺ influx. The results show that TRPV1 protein expression increases during RA-induced differentiation in vitro, which generates an altered intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis.     

TRPV1 expression and activity during retinoic acid-induced neuronal differentiation

The transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1 (TRPV1) is a Ca²⁺-permeable channel primarily expressed in dorsal root ganglion neurons. Besides its function in thermogenic nociception and neurogenic inflammation, TRPV1 is involved in cell migration, cytoskeleton re-organisation and in neuronal guidance. To explore the TRPV1 level and activity during conditions for neuronal maturation, TRPV1-expressing SHSY5Y neuroblastoma cells were differentiated into a neuronal phenotype using all-trans-retinoic acid (RA). We show that RA highly up-regulated the total and cell surface TRPV1 protein expression but the TRPV1 mRNA level was unaffected. The up-regulated receptors were localised to the cell bodies and the developed neurites. Furthermore, RA increased both the basal intracellular free Ca²⁺ concentration by 30% as well as the relative capsaicin-induced Ca²⁺ influx. The results show that TRPV1 protein expression increases during RA-induced differentiation in vitro, which generates an altered intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis.     

Increased expression of cyclin A1 protein is associated with all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis

Deregulated cell growth and inhibition of apoptosis are hallmarks of cancer. All-trans retinoic acid induces clinical remission in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia by inhibiting cell growth and inducing differentiation and apoptosis of the leukemic blasts. An important role of the cell cycle regulatory protein, cyclin A1, in the development of acute myeloid leukemia has previously been demonstrated in a transgenic mouse model. We have recently shown that there was a direct interaction between cyclin A1 and a major all-trans retinoic acid receptor, RAR alpha, following all-trans retinoic acid treatment of leukemic cells. In the present study, we investigated whether cyclin A1 might be involved in all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis in U-937 leukemic cells. We found that all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis was associated with concomitant increase in cyclin A1 expression. However, there was no induction of cyclin A1 mRNA expression following the all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis. Treatment of cells with a caspase inhibitor was not able to prevent all-trans retinoic acid-induced up-regulation of cyclin A1 expression. Interestingly, induced cyclin A1 expression in U-937 cells led to a significant increase in the proportion of apoptotic cells. Further, U-937 cells overexpressing cyclin A1 appeared to be more sensitive to all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis indicating the ability of cyclin A1 to mediate all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis. Induced cyclin E expression was not able to initiate cell death in U-937 cells. Our results indicate that cyclin A1 might have a role in apoptosis by mediating all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis.     

A MAPK-positive feedback mechanism for BLR1 signaling propels retinoic acid-triggered differentiation and cell cycle arrest

MAPK signaling is required for retinoic acid (RA)-triggered G(0) cell cycle arrest and cell differentiation, but the mechanism is not well defined. In this study, RA is found to cause MAPK activation with sustained association of RAF to MEK or ERK, leading to a MAPK-dependent accumulation of p21(Waf1/Cip1) and binding to CDK2 blocking G(1)/S transition. BLR1, a chemokine receptor, was found to function as a critical component of RA-triggered MAPK signaling. Unlike wild-type parental cells, RA-treated BLR1 knock-out cells failed to show RAF and consequential MEK and ERK phosphorylation, failed to accumulate CDK inhibitors that control G(1)/S transition, and failed to differentiate and arrest in response to RA, whereas ectopically overexpressing BLR1 enhanced MAPK signaling and caused accelerated RA-induced differentiation and arrest. Ectopic overexpression of RAF enhanced BLR1 expression in response to RA, whereas inhibition of RAF or MEK by inhibitors or knockdown of RAF by short interfering RNA diminished RA-induced BLR1 expression and attenuated differentiation and growth arrest. Ectopic expression of the RAF CR3, the catalytically active domain, in the BLR1 knock-out restored RA-induced MAPK activation and the ability to differentiate and arrest, indicating that RAF effects MAPK signaling by BLR1 to propel differentiation/arrest. Taken together, RA induces cell differentiation and growth arrest through activation of a novel MAPK pathway with BLR1 as a critical component in a positive feedback mechanism that may contribute to the prolonged MAPK signaling propelling RA-induced cell cycle arrest and differentiation.     

A novel Fe deficiency-responsive element (FeRE) regulates the expression of atx1 in Chlamydomonas reinharditii

We investigated the promoter region of atx1, which encodes a copper chaperone in response to iron deficiency induction. Deletion analysis of the promoter region from the 5' and 3' ends revealed that the -532/-461 and -320/-276 regions were necessary and sufficient for iron deficiency-inducible expression. Further deletion analysis showed that two of the Fe deficiency-responsive elements (FeREs) localized within the -532/-511 and -306/-276 regions, in which AtxFeRE1 at -529/-515 (GTCGCACTGGCATGT) and AtxFeRE2 at -300/-286 (GCAGCGATGGCATTT) had been identified, respectively, with a conserved sequence of GNNGCNNTGGCATNT, differing from all known FeREs found in other organisms.     

Correlation of HSP110 expression with all-trans retinoic acid-induced apoptosis

In a previous study, we observed the strong expression of a stress protein of the HSP100/Clp family (HSP110) in apoptotic mesectodermal cells during early mouse facial development. In the present study, we describe the strong expression of the same HSP110 in mesectodermal cells undergoing apoptosis after all-trans retinoic acid (RA) administration. We used a teratological model known to increase cell deaths mainly in the first and second branchial arches during mammalian cephalogenesis: the treatment of E9 mouse embryos with all-trans RA, which results in craniofacial malformations comparable to those that characterize mandibulofacial dysostosis in man. Pregnant NMRI mice were treated with 60 mg/kg body weight of all-trans RA, given orally on day 9 of gestation; embryos were taken 4, 12 or 24 hr after RA administration. The apoptotic pattern of RA-induced cell deaths was confirmed using the dUTP biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) method and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). HSP110 expression was detected using an immunohistochemical approach. The increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells and HSP110-positive cells after all-trans RA administration was quantified in the first branchial arch using a computerized method. Twelve hours after RA administration, the increase in the number of HSP110-positive cells is greater than the increase in the number of TUNEL-positive cells. Twenty-four hours after RA administration, only TUNEL-positive cells remain strong in number. We suggest that HSP110 expression could represent a biochemical event of apoptotic cell death induced by RA, associated with early stages of the apoptotic process. In order to find out if HSP110 expression resulted from neosynthesis, we performed in situ hybridization, which demonstrated that the expression of HSP110 occurred at the level of mRNA.     

Mapping of a retinoic acid-responsive element in the promoter region of the complement factor H gene.

Retinoic acid receptors are members of the steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily. Pursuant to the discovery that dexamethasone increases complement factor H expression, we examined the effects of retinoic acid on this gene. Both H mRNA and protein levels are increased by retinoic acid in L cells. Using the luciferase reporter gene system we have identified a region of the H promoter required for the retinoic acid response. This region contains an imperfect palindrome of the TGACC motif, present in thyroid hormone and estrogen-responsive elements. We demonstrate specific binding of the retinoic acid receptor beta to this sequence of the H gene by DNA-protein gel retardation assay. Therefore, these studies extend the sphere of influence of the retinoids to complement, an intrinsic component of the humoral immune system.     

A novel colonic repressor element regulates intestinal gene expression by interacting with Cux/CDP

Intestinal gene regulation involves mechanisms that direct temporal expression along the vertical and horizontal axes of the alimentary tract. Sucrase-isomaltase (SI), the product of an enterocyte-specific gene, exhibits a complex pattern of expression. Generation of transgenic mice with a mutated SI transgene showed involvement of an overlapping CDP (CCAAT displacement protein)-GATA element in colonic repression of SI throughout postnatal intestinal development. We define this element as CRESIP (colon-repressive element of the SI promoter). Cux/CDP interacts with SI and represses SI promoter activity in a CRESIP-dependent manner. Cux/CDP homozygous mutant mice displayed increased expression of SI mRNA during early postnatal development. Our results demonstrate that an intestinal gene can be repressed in the distal gut and identify Cux/CDP as a regulator of this repression during development.