Project description:Unraveling the complexity of transcriptional programs coded by different cell types has been one of the central goals of cell biology. By using genome-wide location analysis, we examined how two different cell types generate different responses to the NF-?B signaling pathway. We showed that, after TNF-? treatment, the NF-?B p65 subunit binds to distinct genome locations and subsequently induces different subsets of genes in human monocytic THP-1 cells versus HeLa cells. Interestingly, the differential p65 binding in two cell types correlates with preexisting cell type-specific enhancers before TNF-? stimulation, marked by histone modifications. We also found that two transcription factors, PU.1 and C/EBP?, appear to synergistically mediate enhancer creation and affect NF-?B target selection in THP-1 cells. In HeLa cells, coexpression of PU.1 and C/EBP? conferred TNF-? responsiveness to a subset of THP-1-specific NF-?B target genes. These results suggest that the diversity of transcriptional programs in mammalian cells arises, at least in part, from preexisting enhancers that are established by cell-specific transcription factors.
Project description:Unraveling the complexity of transcriptional programs coded by different cell types has been one of the central goals of cell biology. Using genome-wide location analysis, we examined how two different cell types generate different responses to the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. We showed that, after tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment, NF-kappaB p65 subunit binds to distinct genome locations and subsequently induces different subsets of genes in human monocytic THP-1 cells versus HeLa cells . Interestingly, the differential p65 binding in two cell types correlates with pre-existing cell-type specific enhancers prior to TNF-alpha stimulation, marked by histone modifications. We also found that two transcription factors, PU.1 and C/EBPalpha, appear to synergistically mediate enhancer creation and affect NF-kappaB target selection in THP-1 cells. In HeLa cells, co-expression of PU.1 and C/EBPalpha conferred TNF-alpha responsiveness to a subset of THP-1 specific NF-kappaB target genes. These results suggest that the diversity of transcriptional programs in mammalian cells arises, at least in part, from pre-existing enhancers that are established by cell specific transcription factors. We used Affymetrix microarray (GPL570) to obtain gene expression data for THP1 and HeLa cells before and after TNF-alpha treatment.
Project description:Unraveling the complexity of transcriptional programs coded by different cell types has been one of the central goals of cell biology. Using genome-wide location analysis, we examined how two different cell types generate different responses to the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. We showed that, after tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment, NF-kappaB p65 subunit binds to distinct genome locations and subsequently induces different subsets of genes in human monocytic THP-1 cells versus HeLa cells . Interestingly, the differential p65 binding in two cell types correlates with pre-existing cell-type specific enhancers prior to TNF-alpha stimulation, marked by histone modifications. We also found that two transcription factors, PU.1 and C/EBPalpha, appear to synergistically mediate enhancer creation and affect NF-kappaB target selection in THP-1 cells. In HeLa cells, co-expression of PU.1 and C/EBPalpha conferred TNF-alpha responsiveness to a subset of THP-1 specific NF-kappaB target genes. These results suggest that the diversity of transcriptional programs in mammalian cells arises, at least in part, from pre-existing enhancers that are established by cell specific transcription factors.
Project description:Unraveling the complexity of transcriptional programs coded by different cell types has been one of the central goals of cell biology. Using genome-wide location analysis, we examined how two different cell types generate different responses to the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. We showed that, after tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) treatment, NF-kappaB p65 subunit binds to distinct genome locations and subsequently induces different subsets of genes in human monocytic THP-1 cells versus HeLa cells . Interestingly, the differential p65 binding in two cell types correlates with pre-existing cell-type specific enhancers prior to TNF-alpha stimulation, marked by histone modifications. We also found that two transcription factors, PU.1 and C/EBPalpha, appear to synergistically mediate enhancer creation and affect NF-kappaB target selection in THP-1 cells. In HeLa cells, co-expression of PU.1 and C/EBPalpha conferred TNF-alpha responsiveness to a subset of THP-1 specific NF-kappaB target genes. These results suggest that the diversity of transcriptional programs in mammalian cells arises, at least in part, from pre-existing enhancers that are established by cell-specific transcription factors.
Project description:PU.1 and C/EBPalpha synergistically program distinct response to NF-kappaB activation through establishing monocyte-specific enhancers
Project description:Feedback regulation of transcription factor NF-kappaB by its inhibitor IkappaBalpha plays an essential role in control of NF-kappaB activity. To understand the biological significance of IkappaBalpha-mediated feedback regulation of NF-kappaB, we generated mice harboring mutated kappaB enhancers in the promoter of the IkappaBalpha gene (IkappaBalpha(M/M)) to inhibit NF-kappaB-regulated IkappaBalpha expression. Here, we report that these mutant mice are defective in NF-kappaB-induced expression of IkappaBalpha. This defective feedback regulation of NF-kappaB by IkappaBalpha not only altered activity of NF-kappaB, but also the expression of NF-kappaB-regulated genes. As a result, IkappaBalpha(M/M), the homozygous knock-in mice with mutated kappaB enhancers in the IkappaBalpha promoter, acquire shorten life span, hypersensitivity to septic shock, abnormal T-cell development and activation, and Sjögren's Syndrome. These findings therefore demonstrate that the IkappaBalpha-mediated feedback regulation of NF-kappaB has an essential role in controlling T-cell development and functions, provide mechanistic insight into the development of Sjögren's Syndrome, and suggest the potential of NF-kappaB signaling as a therapeutic target for Sjögren's Syndrome and other autoimmune diseases.
Project description:The X-ray structure of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) p52:RelB:kappaB DNA complex reveals a new recognition feature not previously seen in other NF-kappaB:kappaB DNA complexes. Arg 125 of RelB is in contact with an additional DNA base pair. Surprisingly, the p52:RelB R125A mutant heterodimer shows defects both in DNA binding and in transcriptional activity only to a subclass of kappaB sites. We found that the Arg 125-sensitive kappaB sites contain more contiguous and centrally located A:T base pairs than do the insensitive sites. A protein-induced kink observed in this complex, which used an AT-rich kappaB site, might allow the DNA contact by Arg 125; such a kink might not be possible in complexes with non-AT-rich kappaB sites. Furthermore, we show that the p52:RelB heterodimer binds to a broader spectrum of kappaB sites when compared with the p50:RelA heterodimer. We suggest that the p52:RelB heterodimer is more adaptable to complement sequence and structural variations in kappaB sites when compared with other NF-kappaB dimers.
Project description:BackgroundThe cytokine tumor necrosis factor (TNF) initiates tissue inflammation, a process mediated by the NF-kappaB transcription factor. In response to TNF, latent cytoplasmic NF-kappaB is activated, enters the nucleus, and induces expression of inflammatory and anti-apoptotic gene expression programs. Recently it has been shown that NF-kappaB displays two distinct activation modes, monophasic and oscillatory, depending on stimulus duration. Characterization of temporal expression patterns for the NF-kappaB network and determination of those genes under monophasic- or oscillatory control has not been experimentally addressed.ResultsTo identify the kinetics of NF-kappaB-dependent gene expression and determine whether these two types of NF-kappaB translocation modes control distinct gene programs, a detailed kinetic analysis of a validated microarray data set was performed on 74 unique NF-kappaB-dependent genes in response to TNF. Hierarchical clustering identified distinct expression profiles termed the "Early", "Middle", "Late" response groups, peaking 1, 3, and 6 h after stimulation, respectively. These expression patterns were validated by Quantitative Real Time PCR (Q-RT-PCR) and NF-kappaB binding was demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Each response group was mapped to its molecular function; this analysis indicated that the Early group encodes cytokines or negative regulators of the IKK-NF-kappaB pathway, and the Late group encodes cell surface receptors, adhesion molecules and signal adapters. That similar coordinated sequential cascades of gene expression were also seen in response to stimulation by the cytokine IL-1, and expression patterns observed in MRC-5 fibroblasts indicated that the epithelial NF-kappaB program is relatively stimulus- and cell type-independent. Bioinformatic analysis of the Early and Late gene promoters indicates that although both groups contain similar patterns of NF-kappaB-binding sites, only the Early gene promoters contain NF-kappaB-binding sites located in phylogenetically conserved domains. Stimulation protocols designed to produce either monophasic or oscillatory NF-kappaB activation modes showed that the oscillatory mode is required only for expression of the Late genes.ConclusionThis analysis provides important insights into the TNF-regulated genetic response program in epithelial cells, where NF-kappaB controls sequential expression patterns of functionally distinct genes that depend on its oscillatory activation mode.
Project description:Earlier work has shown that the transcription factor C/EBPalpha induced a transdifferentiation of committed lymphoid precursors into macrophages in a process requiring endogenous PU.1. Here we have examined the effects of PU.1 and C/EBPalpha on fibroblasts, a cell type distantly related to blood cells and akin to myoblasts, adipocytes, osteoblasts, and chondroblasts. The combination of the two factors, as well as PU.1 and C/EBPbeta, induced the up-regulation of macrophage/hematopoietic cell surface markers in a large proportion of NIH 3T3 cells. They also up-regulated these markers in mouse embryo- and adult skin-derived fibroblasts. Based on cell morphology, activation of macrophage-associated genes, and extinction of fibroblast-associated genes, cell lines containing an attenuated form of PU.1 and C/EBPalpha acquired a macrophage-like phenotype. The lines also display macrophage functions: They phagocytose small particles and bacteria, mount a partial inflammatory response, and exhibit strict CSF-1 dependence for growth. The myeloid conversion is primarily induced by PU.1, with C/EBPalpha acting as a modulator of macrophage-specific gene expression. Our data suggest that it might become possible to induce the transdifferentiation of skin-derived fibroblasts into cell types desirable for tissue regeneration.
Project description:Cell-surface protein CD10 is a prognostic marker for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), where high expression of CD10 is found in the germinal center B-cell (GCB) subtype and CD10 expression is low or absent in the activated B-cell (ABC) subtype. As compared with the GCB subtype, patients with ABC DLBCL have a poorer prognosis after standard treatment, and ABC tumor cells have higher NF-κB activity. Herein, we show that increased expression of the NF-κB target micro-RNA miR-155 is correlated with reduced expression of transcription factor PU.1 and CD10 in several B-lymphoma cell lines. Moreover, electromobility shift assays and luciferase reporter assays indicate that PU.1 can directly activate expression from the CD10 promoter. Expression of a DLBCL-derived mutant of the adaptor CARD11 (a constitutive activator of NF-κB) in the GCB-like human BJAB cell line or v-Rel in the chicken DT40 B-lymphoma cell line causes reduced expression of PU.1. The CARD11 mutant also causes a decrease in CD10 levels in BJAB cells. Similarly, overexpression of miR-155, which is known to down-regulate PU.1, leads to reduced expression of CD10 in BJAB cells. Finally, we show that CD10 expression is reduced in BJAB cells after treatment with the NF-κB inducer lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Additionally, miR-155 is induced by LPS treatment or expression of the CARD11 mutant in BJAB cells. These results point to an NF-κB-dependent mechanism for down-regulation of CD10 in B-cell lymphoma: namely, that increased NF-κB activity leads to increased miR-155, which results in decreased PU.1, and consequently reduced CD10 mRNA and protein.