RESUMO
FHRE-Luc is a promoter reporter construct that is widely used to assess the activity of FoxO (forkhead box, class O) transcription factors. We here demonstrate that this promoter construct responds to exposure of HepG2 human hepatoma cells to known agonists of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), 3-methylcholanthrene, benzo(a)pyrene, and 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole. However, FHRE-Luc activation did not coincide with FoxO DNA binding or changes in Akt-induced FoxO phosphorylation after treatment with AhR agonists. Testing FHRE-Luc deletion constructs and using AhR-deficient cells, we found that FHRE-Luc activation by AhR agonists is due to a functional xenobiotic-response element (XRE) spanning the backbone/insert border of the reporter plasmid. In conclusion, care must be taken when using FHRE-Luc to assess FoxO activity in response to stimuli that potentially interfere with xenobiotic signaling.
Assuntos
Fatores de Transcrição Forkhead/metabolismo , Receptores de Hidrocarboneto Arílico/agonistas , Elementos de Resposta , Xenobióticos/farmacologia , Benzo(a)pireno/farmacologia , Carbazóis/farmacologia , Genes Reporter , Células Hep G2 , Humanos , Luciferases/genética , Metilcolantreno/farmacologia , Fosforilação , Receptores de Hidrocarboneto Arílico/deficiência , Transdução de SinaisRESUMO
Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) 1 and 2 as well as ERK-5 were previously suggested to phosphorylate connexin-43 and to contribute to the modulation of gap junctional intercellular communication (GJC). Exposure of rat liver epithelial cells to epidermal growth factor (EGF) or the redox cycling and alkylating agent menadione resulted in phosphorylation of connexin-43 and loss in GJC, both of which were abrogated by pharmacological inhibitors of ERK-1/2 activation, if used in concentrations that selectively abrogate phosphorylation of ERK-1/2 but not of ERK-5. Thus, EGF- or menadione-induced loss of GJC is mediated by ERK-1/2 but not ERK-5 in rat liver epithelial cells.