Parathyroid hormone induces rat interstitial collagenase mRNA through Ets-1 facilitated by cyclic AMP response element-binding protein and Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II in osteoblastic cells.

Parathyroid hormone (PTH), a powerful bone-resorbing agent, is capable of stimulating interstitial collagenase (MMP-13) mRNA production in osteoblastic cells. In this study, a PEA3 consensus binding sequence (-80; AGGAAGT) in addition to a 'TRE-like' sequence (-89; CGACTCA) in the 5' upstream regulatory region of the rat MMP-13 gene were examined. In response to PTH, there was a time-dependent increase in binding of nuclear factors to an oligonucleotide containing the PEA3 region (-95 to -71). This increase in binding was first observed at 0.5 h, peaked at 4 h (7. 6-fold) then returned to basal levels by 24 h. Mutagenesis of the PEA3 site in a chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) construct containing 5' upstream regulatory sequence of the rat MMP-13 gene significantly decreased activation by PTH. PTH-mediated binding of nuclear factors to an oligonucleotide containing the mutant PEA3 sequence was decreased as compared with the wild type. Mutation or deletion of the TRE-like sequence affected basal as well as PTH-mediated induction of corresponding CAT constructs. Treatment with KN93, a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II specific inhibitor, greatly reduced the amount of protein binding to the PEA3 region in response to PTH which correlated to a notable decrease in the amount of MMP-13 mRNA produced in response to PTH. Antibodies against Ets-1, cyclic AMP response element (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) and CREB were capable of supershifting proteins binding to the oligonucleotide containing the PEA3 region. These data suggest a possible co-operative interaction of factors binding to the PEA3 and TRE-like sequences and provide the first indication of a role for a calcium-mediated pathway in the PTH induction of MMP-13 mRNA in osteoblastic cells.

Effect of primary congenital hypothyroidism upon expression of genes mediating murine brain glucose uptake.

Using hyt/hyt mice that exhibit naturally occurring primary hypothyroidism (n = 72) and Balb/c controls (n = 66), we examined the mRNA, protein, and activity of brain glucose transporters (Glut 1 and Glut 3) and hexokinase I enzyme at various postnatal ages (d 1, 7, 14, 21, 35, and 60). The hyt/hyt mice showed an age-dependent decline in body weight (p < 0.04) and an increase in serum TSH levels (p < 0.001) at all ages. An age-dependent translational/posttranslational 40% decline in Glut 1 (p = 0.02) with no change in Glut 3 levels was observed. These changes were predominant during the immediate neonatal period (d 1). A posttranslational 70% increase in hexokinase enzyme activity was noted at d 1 alone (p < 0.05) with no concomitant change in brain 2-deoxy-glucose uptake. This was despite a decline in the hyt/hyt glucose production rate. We conclude that primary hypothyroidism causes a decline in brain Glut 1 associated with no change in Glut 3 levels and a compensatory increase in hexokinase enzyme activity. These changes are pronounced only during the immediate neonatal period and disappear in the postweaned stages of development. These hypothyroid-induced compensatory changes in gene products mediating glucose transport and phosphorylation ensure an adequate supply of glucose to the developing brain during transition from fetal to neonatal life.

Developmental regulation of genes mediating murine brain glucose uptake.

We examined the molecular mechanisms that mediate the developmental increase in murine whole brain 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Northern and Western blot analyses revealed an age-dependent increase in brain GLUT-1 (endothelial cell and glial) and GLUT-3 (neuronal) membrane-spanning facilitative glucose transporter mRNA and protein concentrations. Nuclear run-on experiments revealed that these developmental changes in GLUT-1 and -3 were regulated posttranscriptionally. In contrast, the mRNA and protein levels of the mitochondrially bound glucose phosphorylating hexokinase I enzyme were unaltered. However, hexokinase I enzyme activity increased in an age-dependent manner suggestive of a posttranslational modification that is necessary for enzymatic activation. Together, the postnatal increase in GLUT-1 and -3 concentrations and hexokinase I enzymatic activity led to a parallel increase in murine brain 2-deoxyglucose uptake. Whereas the molecular mechanisms regulating the increase in the three different gene products may vary, the age-dependent increase of all three constituents appears essential for meeting the increasing demand of the maturing brain to fuel the processes of cellular growth, differentiation, and neurotransmission.

Sp1 and Sp3 regulate transcriptional activity of the facilitative glucose transporter isoform-3 gene in mammalian neuroblasts and trophoblasts.

The murine facilitative glucose transporter isoform 3 (Glut 3) is developmentally regulated and is predominantly expressed in neurons and trophoblasts. Employing the primer extension and RNase protection assays, the transcription start site (denoted as +1) of the murine Glut 3 gene was localized to 305 base pairs (bp) 5' to the ATG translation start codon. Transient transfection assays in N2A, H19-7 neuroblasts, and HRP.1 trophoblasts using sequential 5'-deletions of the murine Glut 3-luciferase fusion gene indicated that the -203 to +237 bp region with reference to the transcriptional start site contained promoter activity. Repressor function was limited to the -137 to -130 bp region within the transcriptional activation domain. The nuclear factors Sp1 and Sp3 bound this GC-rich region in N2A, H19-7, and HRP.1 cells. Dephosphorylation of Sp1 was essential for Glut 3 DNA binding. The related Sp3 protein also bound this same region of mouse Glut 3 in all three cell lines. Mutations of the Sp1-binding site employed in transient transfection and mobility shift assays confirmed the nature of the DNA-binding proteins, while supershift assays with anti-Sp1 and anti-Sp3 IgGs characterized the differences in the two DNA-binding proteins. Co-transfection of the Glut 3-luciferase fusion gene with or without mutations of the Sp1-binding site along with the Sp1 or Sp3 expression vectors in Drosophila SL2 cells confirmed a reciprocal effect, with Sp1 suppressing and Sp3 activating Glut 3 gene transcription.

Developmental changes in ob gene expression and circulating leptin peptide concentrations.

We examined the developmental changes in murine white and brown adipose tissue leptin and circulating immunoreactive total leptin concentrations. The approximately 4.4 kb leptin mRNA levels were higher at 2 and 7d postnatal ages, but declined to adult levels by the 14d stage and remained so until 160d. Paralleling the mRNA concentrations, leptin peptide levels also were higher at 2d, 7d, and 14d, declining to adult values by the 21d weaning stage. No difference in mRNA levels was observed between brown-enriched and white adipose tissue. No sexual dimorphism was observed in the leptin mRNA or peptide levels between 14 and 160d; however, at 2 and 7d, while no sex related differences were observed in the peptide levels, adipose mRNA concentrations were mildly higher in males than in the females. We conclude that leptin mRNA and peptide levels are higher during consumption of a high fat milk diet. High levels of leptin with increasing food intake and body weight gain signify hypothalamic leptin receptor resistance during the immediate postnatal period.

Parathyroid hormone induction of rat interstitial collagenase mRNA in osteosarcoma cells is mediated through an AP-1-binding site.

Interstitial collagenase is secreted by the osteoblast in response to bone-resorbing agents. Previously, we cloned the rat interstitial collagenase cDNA from UMR 106-01 rat osteoblastic osteosarcoma cells. We demonstrated that induction of collagenase by PTH, a powerful resorbing agent, in UMR 106-01 cells is in part transcriptional. In the present study we isolate and characterize the rat interstitial collagenase gene. The gene consists of 10 exons and spans approximately 12 kbp. The major transcriptional start site, determined by primer extension analysis and confirmed by RNase protection assay, is 25 nucleotides upstream of the translational start site. The previously isolated cDNA was missing the 5'-untranslated sequence in addition to 17 nucleotides of the signal sequence of the preproenzyme; therefore, we also present these data. Chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) analyses were performed on the 5'-upstream region of the gene. These data indicate that PTH appears to mediate its effect through an AP-1 consensus-binding sequence (-51). Footprint analysis demonstrates protein binding to this site. Site-specific mutagenesis markedly decreased protein binding, which correlated directly with a decrease in CAT activation by PTH. Supershift data indicate that cAMP response element binding protein (CREB) is binding to this AP-1 consensus sequence. In addition we demonstrate that PTH induces phosphorylation of CREB.