The transcription factors NF-kappab and AP-1 are differentially regulated in skeletal muscle during sepsis.

Sepsis is associated with increased muscle proteolysis and upregulated transcription of several genes in the ubiquitin-proteasome proteolytic pathway. Glucocorticoids are the most important mediator of sepsis-induced muscle cachexia. Here, we examined the influence of sepsis in rats on the transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1 in skeletal muscle and the potential role of glucocorticoids in the regulation of these transcription factors. Sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). Control rats were sham-operated. NF-kappaB and AP-1 DNA binding activity was determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) in extensor digitorum longus muscles at different time points up to 16 h after sham-operation or CLP. Sepsis resulted in an early (4 h) upregulation of NF-kappaB activity followed by inhibited NF-kappaB activity at 16 h. AP-1 binding activity was increased at all time points studied during the septic course. When rats were treated with the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU38486, NF-kappaB activity increased, whereas AP-1 activity was not influenced by RU38486. The results suggest that NF-kappaB and AP-1 are differentially regulated in skeletal muscle during sepsis and that glucocorticoids may regulate some but not all transcription factors in septic muscle.

The transcription factor activator protein-1 is activated and interleukin-6 production is increased in interleukin-1beta-stimulated human enterocytes.

The intestinal mucosa is an active participant in the inflammatory and metabolic response to sepsis, endotoxemia, and other critical illness. The genes for various cytokines, e.g., interleukin 6 (IL-6), are regulated by multiple transcription factors, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1). In recent studies, treatment with IL-1beta of cultured Caco-2 cells, a human intestinal epithelial cell line, resulted in increased NF-kappaB DNA binding. The effect of IL-1beta on AP-1 activity in the enterocyte and the potential role of AP-1 in enterocyte IL-6 production are not known. We treated Caco-2 cells with IL-1beta and determined AP-1 activity by electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA) and IL-6 production by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Treatment of Caco-2 cells with IL-1beta resulted in a dose- and time-dependent increase in AP-1 DNA binding. Supershift analysis suggests that activated AP-1 contained c-Jun, JunD, c-Fos, FosB, and Fra1 subunits. When Caco-2 cells were transiently transfected with an AP-1 luciferase reporter plasmid, stimulation with IL-1beta resulted in increased luciferase activity, suggesting that AP-1 DNA binding increased gene activation. Additional luciferase assays were performed with a plasmid containing a wild-type or AP-1-mutated IL-6 promoter. Stimulation of these cells with IL-1beta gave rise to results supporting the role of AP-1 in the regulation of IL-6 production. Geldanamycin, which has been shown in studies to inhibit AP-1 activation, blocked IL-1beta-induced AP-1 luciferase gene activation and IL-6 production. These results suggest that the AP-1 family of transcription factors is activated by IL-1beta in human enterocytes and that AP-1 may at least in part regulate IL-6 production in these cells.

Expression and localization of epitope-tagged protein kinase CK2.

Protein kinase CK2, formerly known as casein kinase II, is a ubiquitous protein serine/threonine kinase. The enzyme exists in tetrameric complexes composed of two catalytic (CK2 alpha and/or CK2 alpha') subunits and two subunits (CK2 beta) that appear to have a role in modulating the activity of the catalytic subunits. With the exception of their unrelated carboxy-terminal domains, the two isozymic forms of mammalian CK2 display extensive sequence identity. Furthermore, CK2 alpha and CK2 alpha' exhibit remarkable conservation between species, suggesting that they may have unique functions. In the present study, the cDNAs encoding CK2 alpha and CK2 alpha' were modified by addition of the hemagglutinin tag of the influenza virus at the amino terminus of the respective proteins. The epitope-tagged proteins were transfected into Cos-7 cells and the localization of the expressed proteins determined by indirect immunofluorescence using monoclonal antibodies specific for the epitope tag. The use of transfection favors the formation of homotetrameric complexes (i.e., alpha 2 beta 2, alpha' 2 beta 2) instead of heterotetrameric complexes (i.e., alpha alpha' beta 2) that are present in many cells. Epitope-tagged CK2 alpha and CK2 alpha' displayed kinase activity and the ability to form complexes with CK2 beta. The results of these studies also indicate definitively that CK2 alpha and CK2 alpha' are both localized predominantly within the nucleus. Mutation of conserved lysine residues within the ATP binding domains of CK2 alpha and CK2 alpha' resulted in loss of kinase activity. However, examination of these mutants indicates that kinase activity is not essential for formation of complexes between subunits of CK2 and is not required for nuclear localization of CK2.

Transcription factor GATA-1-multiprotein complexes and chicken erythroid development.

The chicken erythrocyte transcription factor, GATA-1, is associated with several non-DNA binding proteins. We show that GATA-1 multiprotein complexes exist in primitive and definitive erythrocytes. These complexes bind to GATA motifs of the rho-globin promoter and histone H5 enhancer with high affinity, and to the chicken beta-globin promoter specialized TATA element and enhancer GATA with low affinity. The low affinity beta-globin TATA element would allow basal transcription factors to displace the GATA-1 multiprotein complex. Further, our results suggest that rho-globin promoter's low affinity Sp1 binding site and reduced levels of Sp1 in definitive cells prevent its expression in these cells.

Repression of histone H5 gene expression in chicken mature erythrocytes is correlated with reduced DNA-binding activities of transcription factors Sp1 and GATA-1.

During the final stages of erythroid maturation, the expression of the chicken histone H5 gene ceases. The histone H5 promoter has binding sites for Sp1 and UPE-binding protein. The 3' histone H5 enhancer has binding sites for Sp1, GATA-1 and NF1. Here, we show that the DNA-binding activities of transcription factors Sp1 and GATA-1 is reduced 5- to 10-fold in mature cells, while the activities of UPE-binding protein and NF1 remain the same in mature and immature erythrocytes. The reduced activities of Sp1 and GATA-1 may contribute to the inactivation of the histone H5 gene in mature erythrocytes.

Analysis of erythroid nuclear proteins binding to the promoter and enhancer elements of the chicken histone H5 gene.

The chicken erythroid proteins binding to the histone H5 5' promoter and 3' erythroid-specific enhancer regions were identified. In DNase I footprinting and gel mobility shift experiments with immature adult erythrocyte nuclear extracts, we have demonstrated the binding of proteins to the GC-box, a high affinity Sp1 binding site, and to the upstream promoter element. We have previously demonstrated that a multisubunit complex containing the transcription factor GATA-1 was associated with the enhancer. Here, we show that the enhancer region also has four Sp1 binding sites (one medium and three weak affinity, one of which may also bind the CACCC factor), a potential NF-E4 binding site, and a binding site for a NF1-like factor. The results of gel mobility-shift and competition experiments provide evidence that the Sp1 binding sites are associated with a high molecular mass (greater than 450 kDa), Sp1 containing protein complex. We propose that Sp1 multimers bound at the promoter and enhancer interact to mediate the juxta-positioning of the enhancer and promoter elements, bringing the GATA-1 multisubunit complex next to the initiation site. The GATA-1 complex may contribute to the protein-protein interactions between the enhancer and promoter.

Multisubunit erythroid complexes binding to the enhancer element of the chicken histone H5 gene.

We identified the factor(s) that bind to the chicken erythroid-cell-specific histone H5 enhancer region which is located on the 3' end of the gene. In DNAase I footprinting and u.v. cross-linking experiments with nuclear extracts from adult chicken immature erythrocytes, we determined that the trans-acting factor GATA-1 was the predominating protein interacting with the histone H5 enhancer. GATA-2 and GATA-3 were not detected. In contrast, gel-mobility-shift assays and competition experiments demonstrated that several specific complexes formed with the histone H5 enhancer region. Gel-mobility-shift assays with 23 bp oligonucleotides containing the GATA-binding site (AGATAA) of the histone H5 enhancer or of the beta-globin enhancer showed that the GATA sequence was sufficient for the formation of at least five complexes. Diagonal mobility-shift assays demonstrated that multisubunit complexes were forming with the GATA-1 protein. Our interpretation of the results is that GATA-1 interacts with a protein of approx. 105 kDa which, in turn, can associate with protein or protein complexes of approx. 26 kDa, 146 kDa and a protein(s) of molecular mass greater than 450 kDa. The different multisubunit complexes formed via the trans-acting factor GATA-1 may impart different transcriptional responses to the promoter and enhancer elements of the histone H5 and globin genes.

Antigenic reactivity of ribosomal protein S6 and the calcium-binding ATPase inhibitor protein of mammalian mitochondria.

Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein S6 of mammals precedes activation of cell growth in numerous biological systems. We have cloned a cDNA for ribosomal protein S6 from T-47D human breast cancer cells by immunoscreening a lambda gt11 expression library with antibody raised against the mitochondrial Ca(2+)-binding ATPase inhibitor protein (CaBI) of bovine heart mitochondria (Yamada & Huzel: J Biol Chem 263: 11498-11503, 1988). Similar clones were obtained by the immunoscreening of a rat heart expression library. In agreement with others, the open reading frames of the cDNAs from the two species coded for the same amino acid sequence. No difference in S6 of the human neoplastic cells compared to that of non-neoplastic cells was found. However, common antigenic determinants in S6 and CaBI were indicated. Accordingly, S6 was purified from rat liver ribosomes and antiserum prepared. Immuno-dot blot and Western blot analyses showed high specific reactivity between S6, the cloned chimeric beta-galactosidase fusion protein from a cDNA clone, and CaBI with anti-S6 and anti-CaBI antibodies. The antibodies also showed a high degree of discrimination for S6 and CaBI. Neither interacted with the other ribosomal proteins nor with another ATPase inhibitor protein from bovine heart mitochondria. Neither interacted with the Ca(2+)-binding proteins, calmodulin, oncomodulin, Protein C, or Factor X. Prothrombin was weakly reactive with anti-CaBI but not with anti-S6. Thus, the results fulfill the specific criteria for the concept and operational definition of common protein epitopes in S6 and CaBI. However, neither prothrombin nor S6 fusion protein inhibited mitochondrial ATPase activity even at 20 times the concentrations at which CaBI gave 97% inhibition.