Evaluation of the NK2 homeobox 1 gene (NKX2-1) as a Hirschsprung's disease locus.

Hirschsprung's disease (HSCR, colonic aganglionosis) is an oligogenic entity that usually requires mutations in RET and other interacting loci. Decreased levels of RET expression may lead to the manifestation of HSCR. We previously showed that RET transcription was decreased due to alteration of the NKX2-1 binding site by two HSCR-associated RET promoter single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). This prompted us to investigate whether DNA alterations in NKX2-1 could play a role in HSCR by affecting the RET-regulatory properties of the NKX2-1 protein. Our initial study on 86 Chinese HSCR patients revealed a Gly322Ser amino acid substitution in the NKX2-1 protein. In this study, we have examined 102 additional Chinese and 70 Caucasian patients and 194 Chinese and 60 Caucasian unselected, unrelated, subjects as controls. The relevance of the DNA changes detected in NKX2-1 by direct sequencing were evaluated using bioinformatics, reporter and binding-assays, mouse neurosphere culture, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence techniques. Met3Leu and Pro48Pro were identified in 2 Caucasian and 1 Chinese patients respectively. In vitro analysis showed that Met3Leu reduced the activity of the RET promoter by 100% in the presence of the wild-type or HSCR-associated RET promoter SNP alleles. The apparent binding affinity of the NKX2-1 mutated protein was not decreased. The Met3Leu mutation may affect the interaction of NKX2-1 with its protein partners. The absence of NKX2-1 expression in mouse but not in human gut suggests that the role of NKX2-1 in gut development differs between the two species. NKX2-1 mutations could contribute to HSCR by affecting RET expression through defective interactions with other transcription factors.

Complex regulation of human inducible nitric oxide synthase gene transcription by Stat 1 and NF-kappa B.

The human inducible nitric oxide synthase (hiNOS) gene is expressed in several disease states and is also important in the normal immune response. Previously, we described a cytokine-responsive enhancer between -5.2 and -6.1 kb in the 5'-flanking hiNOS promoter DNA, which contains multiple nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-kappa B) elements. Here, we describe the role of the IFN-Jak kinase-Stat (signal transducer and activator of transcription) 1 pathway for regulation of hiNOS gene transcription. In A549 human lung epithelial cells, a combination of cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and IFN-gamma (TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta, and IFN-gamma) function synergistically for induction of hiNOS transcription. Pharmacological inhibitors of Jak2 kinase inhibit cytokine-induced Stat 1 DNA-binding and hiNOS gene expression. Expression of a dominant-negative mutant Stat 1 inhibits cytokine-induced hiNOS reporter expression. Site-directed mutagenesis of a cis-acting DNA element at -5.8 kb in the hiNOS promoter identifies a bifunctional NF-kappa B/Stat 1 motif. In contrast, gel shift assays indicate that only Stat 1 binds to the DNA element at -5.2 kb in the hiNOS promoter. Interestingly, Stat 1 is repressive to basal and stimulated iNOS mRNA expression in 2fTGH human fibroblasts, which are refractory to iNOS induction. Overexpression of NF-kappa B activates hiNOS promoter-reporter expression in Stat 1 mutant fibroblasts, but not in the wild type, suggesting that Stat 1 inhibits NF-kappa B function in these cells. These results indicate that both Stat 1 and NF-kappa B are important in the regulation of hiNOS transcription by cytokines in a complex and cell type-specific manner.

cAMP inhibits inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and NF-kappaB-binding activity in cultured rat hepatocytes.

BACKGROUND: The inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is strongly expressed following inflammatory stimuli. Adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) increases iNOS expression and activity in a number of cell types but decreases cytokine-stimulated iNOS expression in hepatocytes. The mechanisms for this effect are unknown. METHODS: Rat hepatocytes were stimulated with cytokines to induce iNOS and cultured with cAMP agonists dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP), 8-bromo-cAMP, and forskolin (FSK). Nitric oxide synthesis was assessed by supernatant nitrite levels and iNOS expression was measured by Northern and Western blot analyses. Nuclear factor kappaB binding was assessed by electromobility shift assay. RESULTS: Cyclic AMP dose dependently decreased NO synthesis in response to a combination of proinflammatory cytokines or interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) alone. The adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ 22,536 increased cytokine- or IL-1beta-stimulated NO synthesis. dbcAMP decreased iNOS mRNA expression and iNOS protein expression. Both dbcAMP and glucagon decreased iNOS promoter activity in rat hepatocytes transfected with the murine iNOS promoter and decreased DNA binding of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that cAMP is important in hepatocyte iNOS expression and agents that alter cAMP levels may profoundly alter the response of hepatocytes to inflammatory stimuli through effects onthe iNOS promoter region and NF-kappaB.

Aspirin inhibits in vitro maturation and in vivo immunostimulatory function of murine myeloid dendritic cells.

Aspirin is the most commonly used analgesic and antiinflammatory agent. In this study, at physiological concentrations, it profoundly inhibited CD40, CD80, CD86, and MHC class II expression on murine, GM-CSF + IL-4 stimulated, bone marrow-derived myeloid dendritic cells (DC). CD11c and MHC class I expression were unaffected. The inhibitory action was dose dependent and was evident at concentrations higher than those necessary to inhibit PG synthesis. Experiments with indomethacin revealed that the effects of aspirin on DC maturation were cyclooxygenase independent. Nuclear extracts of purified, aspirin-treated DC revealed a decreased NF-kappaB DNA-binding activity, whereas Ab supershift analysis indicated that aspirin targeted primarily NF-kappaB p50. Unexpectedly, aspirin promoted the generation of CD11c+ DC, due to apparent suppression of granulocyte development. The morphological and ultrastructural appearance of aspirin-treated cells was consistent with immaturity. Aspirin-treated DC were highly efficient at Ag capture, via both mannose receptor-mediated endocytosis and macropinocytosis. By contrast, they were poor stimulators of naive allogeneic T cell proliferation and induced lower levels of IL-2 in responding T cells. They also exhibited impaired IL-12 expression and did not produce IL-10 after LPS stimulation. Assessment of the in vivo function of aspirin-treated DC, pulsed with the hapten trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid, revealed an inability to induce normal cell-mediated contact hypersensitivity, despite the ability of the cells to migrate to T cell areas of draining lymphoid tissue. These data provide new insight into the immunopharmacology of aspirin and suggest a novel approach to the manipulation of DC for therapeutic application.

Recombinant adenovirus induces maturation of dendritic cells via an NF-kappaB-dependent pathway.

Recombinant adenovirus (rAd) infection is one of the most effective and frequently employed methods to transduce dendritic cells (DC). Contradictory results have been reported recently concerning the influence of rAd on the differentiation and activation of DC. In this report, we show that, as a result of rAd infection, mouse bone marrow-derived immature DC upregulate expression of major histocompatibility complex class I and II antigens, costimulatory molecules (CD40, CD80, and CD86), and the adhesion molecule CD54 (ICAM-1). rAd-transduced DC exhibited increased allostimulatory capacity and levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-12p40, IL-15, gamma interferon, and tumor necrosis factor alpha mRNAs, without effects on other immunoregulatory cytokine transcripts such as IL-10 or IL-12p35. These effects were not related to specific transgenic sequences or to rAd genome transcription. The rAd effect correlated with a rapid increase (1 h) in the NF-kappaB-DNA binding activity detected by electrophoretic mobility shift assays. rAd-induced DC maturation was blocked by the proteasome inhibitor Nalpha-p-tosyl-L-lysine chloromethyl ketone (TLCK) or by infection with rAd-IkappaB, an rAd-encoding the dominant-negative form of IkappaB. In vivo studies showed that after intravenous administration, rAds were rapidly entrapped in the spleen by marginal zone DC that mobilized to T-cell areas, a phenomenon suggesting that rAd also induced DC differentiation in vivo. These findings may explain the immunogenicity of rAd and the difficulties in inducing long-term antigen-specific T-cell hyporesponsiveness with rAd-transduced DC.

Induced nitric oxide inhibits IL-6-induced stat3 activation and type II acute phase mRNA expression.

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) can be coexpressed with acute phase reactants in hepatocytes; however, it is unknown if NO can regulate the acute phase response. We tested the hypothesis that iNOS-derived nitric oxide (NO) attenuates the acute phase response by inhibiting IL-6-enhanced Stat3 DNA-binding activity and type II acute phase mRNA expression. iNOS was overexpressed in cultured rat hepatocytes via transduction with a replication defective adenovirus containing cDNA for human iNOS (AdiNOS), and Stat3 DNA-binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). EMSAs demonstrated that AdiNOS inhibits IL-6-induced Stat3 activation and that this inhibition is reversible in the presence of the NOS inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMA). The induction of beta-fibrinogen mRNA by IL-6, a Stat3 dependent process, is attenuated in AdiNOS-transduced cells and partially reversed by L-NMA. Thus, iNOS overexpression suppresses IL-6-induced Stat3 activation and type II acute phase mRNA expression in cultured hepatocytes. This suppression may represent a mechanism by which NO down-regulates the acute phase response.

Cyclosporine A inhibits the expression of costimulatory molecules on in vitro-generated dendritic cells: association with reduced nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B.

BACKGROUND: The maturation of dendritic cells (DC) is influenced by various factors, in particular cytokine-mediated signaling events. These include modulation of the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB), which controls the transcription of genes encoding major histocompatibility complex (MHC) antigens, and costimulatory/accessory molecules for T-cell activation. Here, we investigated the influence of cyclosporine A (CsA) on the in vitro maturation of DC, and on the nuclear translocation and DNA binding of NF-kappaB. METHODS: DC progenitors were propagated from mouse bone marrow in granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or in GM-CSF plus either transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta or interleukin (IL)-4, in the presence or absence of CsA (1 microg/ml). After 5 days of culture, cell surface expression of MHC class I/II, CD40, CD80, and CD86 was analyzed by flow cytometry, and nuclear NF-kappaB proteins by electrophoretic mobility shift, antibody supershift, and Western blot assays. The antigen-presenting function of DC was determined in one-way mixed leukocyte reactions. RESULTS: Exposure of replicating DC progenitors propagated in GM-CSF or GM-CSF+TGF-beta to CsA reduced costimulatory molecule expression, without affecting MHC antigen expression. Nuclear extracts from the CsA-treated DC revealed a decrease in nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB (p50). Mixed leukocyte reaction data were consistent with the flow cytometry and gel shift assay results, and showed reduced allostimulatory ability of the CsA-treated cells compared with untreated controls. Addition of IL-4 from the start of DC cultures conferred resistance to CsA-induced inhibition of NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and DC maturation. CONCLUSIONS: CsA differentially inhibits the expression of key cell surface costimulatory molecules by in vitro-generated DC. This effect can be overcome, at least in part, by IL-4 and augmented by TGF-beta. The inhibition is linked to a decrease in nuclear translocation/DNA binding of NF-kappaB. Thus, CsA can alter the antigen-presenting function of DC for T-cell activation.

Inhibition of cytokine-induced nitric oxide synthase expression by gene transfer of adenoviral I kappa B alpha.

BACKGROUND: Nitric oxide is overexpressed in nearly every organ during sepsis and it has profound biologic effects. Previously, we showed that maximal inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression is up-regulated by a combination of cytokines and that this effect is mediated by the transcription factor NF-kappa B. Therefore the purpose of this study was to establish whether gene transfer of the inhibitory molecule I kappa B would result in the abrogation of cytokine-induced iNOS expression. METHODS: Cultured hepatocytes were infected with an adenoviral vector containing the I kappa B alpha gene (Ad5I kappa B) and after an 18-hour recovery period were stimulated with the cytokine mixture of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (500 U/mL) plus interleukin 1 beta (200 U/mL) plus interferon gamma (100 U/mL). RESULTS: As expected, cytokine mixture induced significant hepatocyte nitrite (NO2-) and iNOS messenger RNA production. Cells infected with the I kappa B alpha gene showed a dose-dependent decrease in NO2- and iNOS messenger RNA levels. Western blot analysis showed a marked decrease in iNOS protein levels in the presence of Ad5I kappa B alpha. Gel shift assays of nuclear extracts demonstrated that Ad5I kappa B alpha decreased the cytokine-induced DNA binding activity for NF kappa B. CONCLUSIONS: NF kappa B is an important regulator of cytokine-induced NO expression. These results identify a novel therapeutic approach where gene transfer of the inhibitory molecule I kappa B alpha can be used to down-regulate cytokine-induced iNOS expression as well as other NF kappa B-dependent genes that are up-regulated during the inflammatory response.

The role of protein phosphatases in the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in the rat hepatocyte.

Previously, we demonstrated that nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) mediates cytokine-induced hepatic inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression. NF-kappaB activation is regulated by kinases and phosphatases whose function is only beginning to be understood. Therefore, experiments were performed to determine the role of protein phosphatases (PPase) in cytokine-induced iNOS expression. Hepatocytes were stimulated with cytokines in the presence or absence of tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors (pervanadate [PV], phenylarsine oxide [PAO]) and a serine-threonine phosphatase inhibitor (okadaic acid [OA]). Cytokines induced hepatocyte iNOS mRNA, protein, and NO2- production that was substantially decreased by the addition of the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors (PAO and PV). The serine-threonine phosphatase inhibitor (OA) decreased NO release and protein levels in a concentration-dependent fashion; however, iNOS mRNA levels were not significantly reduced. Nuclear run-on experiments demonstrated that protein tyrosine phosphatases (PTPases) are required for iNOS transcription, while the serine-threonine phosphatase inhibitor (OA) had no effect on iNOS transcription. Electromobility shift assays (EMSAs) revealed that the tyrosine-phosphatase inhibitors blocked cytokine-induced NF-kappaB activation, while OA did not have a significant effect on NF-kappaB DNA binding activity. Therefore, tyrosine phosphatases are involved in the regulation of cytokine-induced activation of NF-kappaB, while serine-threonine phosphatases posttranscriptionally regulate iNOS translation. These results identify the regulatory role of specific protein phosphatases (PPases) in hepatic iNOS expression.

Identification of a calcineurin-independent pathway required for sodium ion stress response in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

The calcium-dependent protein phosphatase calcineurin plays an essential role in ion homeostasis in yeast. In this study, we identify a parallel ion stress response pathway that is independent of the calcineurin signaling pathway. Cells with null alleles in both STD1 and its homologue, MTH1, manifest numerous phenotypes observed in calcineurin mutants, including sodium, lithium, manganese, and hydroxyl ion sensitivity, as well as alpha factor toxicity. Furthermore, increased gene dosage of STD1 suppresses the ion stress phenotypes in calcineurin mutants and confers halotolerance in wild-type cells. However, Std1p functions in a calcineurin-independent ion stress response pathway, since a std1 mth1 mutant is FK506 sensitive under conditions of ion stress. Mutations in other genes known to regulate gene expression in response to changes in glucose concentration, including SNF3, RGT2, and SNF5, also affect cell growth under ion stress conditions. Gene expression studies indicate that the regulation of HAL1 and PMR2 expression is affected by STD1 gene dosage. Taken together, our data demonstrate that response to ion stress requires the participation of both calcineurin-dependent and -independent pathways.

Multiple NF-kappaB enhancer elements regulate cytokine induction of the human inducible nitric oxide synthase gene.

The human inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) gene is overexpressed in a number of human inflammatory diseases. Previously, we observed that the human iNOS gene is transcriptionally regulated by cytokines and demonstrated that the cytokine-responsive regions are upstream of -3.8 kilobase pairs (kb). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to further localize the functional enhancer elements and to assess the role of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in both human liver (AKN-1) and human lung (A549) epithelial cell lines. The addition of NF-kappaB inhibitors significantly suppressed cytokine-stimulated iNOS mRNA expression and NO synthesis, indicating that NF-kappaB is involved in the induction of the human iNOS gene. Analysis of the first 4.7 kb of the 5'-flanking region demonstrated basal promoter activity and failed to show any cytokine-inducible activity. However, promoter constructs extending to -5.8 and -7.2 kb revealed 2-3-fold and 4-5-fold induction, respectively, in the presence of cytokines. DNA sequence analysis from -3.8 to -7.2 kb identified five putative NF-kappaB cis-regulatory transcription factor binding sites upstream of -4.7 kb. Site-directed mutagenesis of these sites revealed that the NF-kappaB motif at -5.8 kb is required for cytokine-induced promoter activity, while the sites at -5.2, -5.5, and -6.1 kb elicit a cooperative effect. Electromobility shift assays using a site-specific oligonucleotide and nuclear extracts from cells stimulated with cytokine-mixture, tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interleukin-1beta, but not interferon-gamma, exhibited inducible DNA binding activity for NF-kappaB. These data indicate that NF-kappaB activation is required for cytokine induction of the human iNOS gene and identifies four NF-kappaB enhancer elements upstream in the human iNOS promoter that confer inducibility to tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta.

DNA-binding properties of the yeast SWI/SNF complex.

The SWI/SNF complex is required for the enhancement of transcription by many transcriptional activators in yeast. Genetic and biochemical studies indicate that the complex facilitates activator function by antagonizing chromatin-mediated transcriptional repression. The absence of known DNA-binding motifs in several SWI/SNF subunits and the failure to identify SWI/SNF-dependent DNA-binding activities in crude yeast extracts have led to the belief that the complex does not bind DNA. Here we show that the SWI/SNF complex has a high affinity for DNA and that its DNA-binding properties are similar to those of proteins containing HMG-box domains. The complex interacts with the minor groove of the DNA helix, binds synthetic four-way junction DNA, and introduces positive supercoils into relaxed plasmid DNA. These properties are likely to be important in the remodelling of chromatin structure by the SWI/SNF complex

STD1 (MSN3) interacts directly with the TATA-binding protein and modulates transcription of the SUC2 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

STD1 (MSN3) was isolated independently as a multicopy suppressor of mutations in the TATA-binding protein and in SNF4, suggesting that STD1 might couple the SNF1 kinase signaling pathway to the transcriptional machinery. We report here a direct physical interaction between STD1 and the TATA-binding protein (TBP), observed in vivo by the two-hybrid system and in vitro by binding studies. STD1 bound both native TBP in yeast cell-free extracts and purified recombinant TBP. This interaction was altered when TBP delta 57 was used, suggesting a role for the non-conserved N-terminal domain of TBP in mediating protein-protein interactions. We also show that perturbation of STD1-TBP stoichiometry alters SUC2 expression in vivo and that this effect is dependent on the N-terminal domain of TBP. The activation of SUC2 expression by increased copy number of STD1 occurs at the level of mRNA accumulation and it requires the same TATA element and uses the same transcription start site as does activation of SUC2 by glucose limitation. Taken together, these results suggest that STD1 modulates SUC2 transcription through direct interactions with TBP.

Isolation of STD1, a high-copy-number suppressor of a dominant negative mutation in the yeast TATA-binding protein.

The TATA-binding protein (TBP) is an essential component of the transcriptional machinery of all three nuclear RNA polymerase enzymes. Comparison of the amino acid sequence of TBPs from a number of species reveals a highly conserved 180-residue C-terminal domain. In contrast, the N terminus is variable in both size and amino acid sequence. Overexpression of a TBP protein with a deletion of the nonconserved N terminus (TBP delta 57) in Saccharomyces cerevisiae results in a dominant negative phenotype of extremely slow growth. Associated with the slow-growth phenotype are defects in RNA polymerase II transcription in vivo. We have screened a high-copy-number yeast genomic library for suppression of the slow-growth phenotype and have isolated plasmids which encode suppressors of TBP delta 57 overexpression. Here we report the sequence and initial characterization of one suppressor, designated STD1 for suppressor of TBP deletion. The STD1 gene contains a single continuous open reading frame with the potential to encode a 50.2-kDa protein. Disruption of the STD1 gene indicates that it is not essential for vegetative growth, mating, or sporulation. High-copy-number suppression by the STD1 gene is not the result of a decrease in TBP delta 57 protein accumulation or DNA-binding activity; instead, STD1 suppression is coincident with the elimination of TBP delta 57-induced RNA polymerase II defects in both uninduced and induced transcription in vivo.