PGE2 Induces IL-6 in Orbital Fibroblasts through EP2 Receptors and Increased Gene Promoter Activity: Implications to Thyroid-Associated Ophthalmopathy

BACKGROUND: IL-6 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of Graves' disease and its orbital component, thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO). Orbital tissues become inflamed in TAO, a process in which prostanoids have been implicated. Orbital fibroblasts both generate and respond to PGE(2), underlying the inflammatory phenotype of these cells. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Using cultured orbital and dermal fibroblasts, we characterized the effects of PGE(2) on IL-6 expression. We found that the prostanoid provokes substantially greater cytokine synthesis in orbital fibroblasts, effects that are mediated through cell-surface EP(2) receptors and increased steady-state IL-6 mRNA levels. The pre-translational up-regulation of IL-6 results from increased gene promoter activity and can be reproduced with the PKA agonist, Sp-cAMP and blocked by interrupting the PKA pathway. PGE(2)-induced production of cAMP in orbital fibroblasts was far greater than that in dermal fibroblasts, resulting from higher levels of adenylate cyclase. PGE(2) provokes CREB phosphorylation, increases the pCREB/CREB ratio, and initiates nuclear localization of the pCREB/CREB binding protein/p300 complex (CBP) preferentially in orbital fibroblasts. Transfection with siRNAs targeting either CREB or CBP blunts the induction of IL-6 gene expression. PGE(2) promotes the binding of pCREB to its target DNA sequence which is substantially greater in orbital fibroblasts. CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE: These results identify the mechanism underlying the exaggerated induction of IL-6 in orbital fibroblasts and tie together two proinflammatory pathways involved in the pathogenesis of TAO. Moreover, they might therefore define an attractive therapeutic target for the treatment of TAO

Activation of orphan receptor-mediated transcription by Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV

Retinoid-related receptor α (RORα) is an orphan nuclear receptor that constitutively activates transcription from its cognate response element. We show that RORα is Ca(2+)responsive, and a Ca(2+)/calmodulin-independent form of Ca(2+)/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase IV (CaMKIV) potentiates RORα-dependent transcription 20- to 30-fold. Other orphan receptors including RORα2, RORγ and COUP-TFI are also potentiated by CaMKIV. Transcriptional activation by CaMKIV is orphan receptor selective and does not occur with either the thyroid hormone or estrogen receptor. CaMKIV does not phosphorylate RORα or its ligand-binding domain (LBD) in vitro, although the LBD is essential for transactivation. Therefore, the RORα LBD was used in the mammalian two-hybrid assay to identify a single class of small peptide molecules containing LXXLL motifs that interacted with greater affinity in the presence of CaMKIV. This class of peptides antagonized activation of orphan receptor-mediated transcription by CaMKIV. These studies demonstrate a pivotal role for CaMKIV in the regulation of orphan receptor-mediated transcription

Interactions between XIAP associated factor 1 and a nuclear co-activator, CBP, in colon cancer cells

Background/Aims: XIAP-associated factor 1 (XAF1) is a nuclear protein. CBP, the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB)-binding protein, plays an important role as a multifunctional transcriptional co-activator. In this investigation, we aimed to study the putative interaction between XAF1 and CBP in colon cancer cells. Methods: Expressions of XAF1 and CBP were detected by Western blot and RT-PCR. The interaction between XAF1 and CBP was investigated by the glutathione S-transferase (GST) pull-down assay, colocalization and co-immunoprecipitation analysis. Cell proliferation was examined by cell number counting. Results: Both XAF1 and CBP were co-localized in the nuclei of colon cancer cells and they demonstrated a physical interaction, as revealed by GST pull-down assay and co-immunoprecipitation analysis. CBP I peptide (residues 1-1098) was the interacting domain for XAF1 binding. The functional implication of the interaction between XAF1 and CBP was demonstrated by the finding that cell growth inhibition by XAF1 was potentiated by cotransfection with CBP. Furthermore, a reporter assay demonstrated that cotransfection with XAF1 and CBP led to marked reduction in phorbol ester 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated adaptor-related protein complex 1 activity. Conclusions: CBP is a novel binding partner of XAF1, and the interaction between XAF1 and CBP and their functional consequence were mediated by adaptor-related protein complex 1. Copyright © 2008 S. Karger AG.link_to_subscribed_fulltex