Direct Observation of Dimerization between Different CREB1 Isoforms in a Living Cell

Cyclic AMP-responsive element binding protein 1 (CREB1) plays multiple functions as a transcription factor in gene regulation. CREB1 proteins are also known to be expressed in several spliced isoforms that act as transcriptional activators or repressors. The activator isoforms, possessing the functional domains for kinase induction and for interaction with other transcriptional regulators, act as transcriptional activators. On the other hand, some isoforms, lacking those functional domains, are reported to be repressors that make heterodimers with activator isoforms. The complex and ingenious function for CREB1 arises in part from the variation in their spliced isoforms, which allows them to interact with each other. To date, however, the dimerization between the activator and repressor isoforms has not yet been proved directly in living cells. In this study, we applied fluorescence cross-correlation spectroscopy (FCCS) to demonstrate direct observation of dimerization between CREB1 activator and repressor. The FCCS is a well established spectroscopic method to determine the interaction between the different fluorescent molecules in the aqueous condition. Using differently labeled CREB1 isoforms, we successfully observed the interaction of CREB1 activator and repressor via dimerization in the nuclei of cultured cells. As a result, we confirmed the formation of heterodimer between CREB1 activator and repressor isoforms in living cells

The Role of the p38 MAPK Signaling Pathway in High Glucose-Induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Cultured Human Renal Tubular Epithelial Cells

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition of tubular epithelial cells, which is characterized by a loss of epithelial cell characteristics and a gain of ECM-producing myofibroblast characteristics, is an essential mechanism that is involved in tubulointerstitial fibrosis, an important component of the renal injury that is associated with diabetic nephropathy. Under diabetic conditions, p38 MAPK activation has been reported in glomeruli and mesangial cells; however, studies on p38 MAPK in TECs are lacking. In this study, the role of p38 MAPK in AP-1 activation and in the EMT in the human proximal tubular epithelial cell line (HK-2) under high glucose concentration conditions is investigated.A vector for small interfering RNA that targets p38 MAPK was constructed; the cells were then either transfected with p38 siRNA or pretreated with a chemical inhibitor of AP-1 and incubated with low glucose plus TGF-β1 or high glucose for 48 h. Cells that were not transfected or pretreated and were exposed to low glucose with or without TGF-β1 or high glucose for 48 h were considered to be the controls. We found that high glucose induced an increase in TGF-β1. And high glucose-induced p38 MAPK activation was inhibited by p38 siRNA (P<0.05). A significant decline in E-cadherin and CK expression and a notable increase in vimentin and α-SMA were detected when exposed to low glucose with TGF-β1 or high glucose, and a significant raise of secreted fibronectin were detected when exposed to high glucose; whereas these changes were reversed when the cells were treated with p38 siRNA or AP-1 inhibitor (P<0.05). AP-1 activity levels and Snail expression were up-regulated under high glucose conditions but were markedly down-regulated through knockdown of p38 MAPK with p38 siRNA or pretreatment with AP-1 inhibitor (P<0.05).This study suggests that p38 MAPK may play an important role in the high glucose-induced EMT by activating AP-1 in tubular epithelial cells

Genetic Variation in the Proximal Promoter of ABC and SLC Superfamilies: Liver and Kidney Specific Expression and Promoter Activity Predict Variation

Membrane transporters play crucial roles in the cellular uptake and efflux of an array of small molecules including nutrients, environmental toxins, and many clinically used drugs. We hypothesized that common genetic variation in the proximal promoter regions of transporter genes contribute to observed variation in drug response. A total of 579 polymorphisms were identified in the proximal promoters (−250 to +50 bp) and flanking 5′ sequence of 107 transporters in the ATP Binding Cassette (ABC) and Solute Carrier (SLC) superfamilies in 272 DNA samples from ethnically diverse populations. Many transporter promoters contained multiple common polymorphisms. Using a sliding window analysis, we observed that, on average, nucleotide diversity (π) was lowest at approximately 300 bp upstream of the transcription start site, suggesting that this region may harbor important functional elements. The proximal promoters of transporters that were highly expressed in the liver had greater nucleotide diversity than those that were highly expressed in the kidney consistent with greater negative selective pressure on the promoters of kidney transporters. Twenty-one promoters were evaluated for activity using reporter assays. Greater nucleotide diversity was observed in promoters with strong activity compared to promoters with weak activity, suggesting that weak promoters are under more negative selective pressure than promoters with high activity. Collectively, these results suggest that the proximal promoter region of membrane transporters is rich in variation and that variants in these regions may play a role in interindividual variation in drug disposition and response

Accumulation of Nonfunctional S-Haplotypes Results in the Breakdown of Gametophytic Self-Incompatibility in Tetraploid Prunus

The transition from self-incompatibility (SI) to self-compatibility (SC) is regarded as one of the most prevalent transitions in Angiosperm evolution, having profound impacts on the genetic structure of populations. Yet, the identity and function of mutations that result in the breakdown of SI in nature are not well understood. This work provides the first detailed genetic description of the breakdown of S-RNase-mediated gametophytic self-incompatibility (GSI) in a polyploid species that exhibits genotype-dependent loss of SI. Genetic analyses of six natural sour cherry (Rosaceae, Prunus cerasus) selections identified seven independent, nonfunctional S-haplotypes with disrupted pistil component (stylar-S) and/or pollen component (pollen-S) function. A genetic model demonstrating that the breakdown of SI in sour cherry is due to the accumulation of a minimum of two nonfunctional S-haplotypes within a single individual is developed and validated. Our finding that sour cherry is SI when only one nonfunctional S-haplotype is present has significant evolutionary implications since nonfunctional S-haplotypes would be maintained in the population without causing an abrupt shift to SC. Furthermore, we demonstrate that heteroallelic sour cherry pollen is self-incompatible, which is counter to the well-documented phenomenon in the Solanaceae where SC accompanying polyploidization is frequently due to the SC of heteroallelic pollen

IFN-γ is reciprocally involved in the concurrent development of organ-specific autoimmunity in the liver and stomach.

Interferon (IFN)-γ acts as a critical proinflammatory mediator in autoimmune processes, whereas it exerts regulatory functions to limit tissue damage associated with inflammation. However, a detailed understanding of the complex roles of IFN-γ in the development of organ-specific autoimmunity is still lacking. Recently, we found that programmed cell death 1-deficient mice thymectomized 3 days after birth (NTx-PD-1(- / - ) mice) concurrently developed autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) and autoimmune gastritis (AIG). In this study, we investigated the roles of IFN-γ in the development of AIH and AIG in this mouse model. In NTx-PD-1(- / - ) mice, serum levels of IFN-γ were markedly elevated. Neutralization of IFN-γ prevented the development of AIG. However, the same treatment exacerbated hepatic T-cell infiltration in AIH. Because of the loss of anti-proliferative effects by IFN-γ, neutralization of IFN-γ increased T-cell proliferation in the spleen and liver, resulting in exacerbated T-cell infiltration in the liver. On the other hand, in the development of AIG, CD4(+) T-cell migration into the gastric mucosa is essential for induction. CCL20 expression was up-regulated in the gastric mucosa, and anti-CCL20 suppressed CD4(+) T-cell infiltration into the gastric mucosa. Importantly, anti-IFN-γ suppressed CCL20 expression and infiltration of CD4(+) T cells in the gastric mucosa, whereas in vivo injection of recombinant IFN-γ up-regulated CCL20 expression in the stomach, suggesting that IFN-γ is critically involved in CD4(+) T-cell accumulation in AIG by up-regulating local CCL20 expression. In conclusion, IFN-γ is involved differently in the development of AIH and of AIG. IFN-γ negatively regulates T-cell proliferation in fatal AIH, whereas it initiates development of AIG. These findings imply that increased production of IFN-γ induced by an organ-specific autoimmunity may trigger the concurrent development of another organ-specific autoimmune disease