Endotoxin-induced down-regulation of Elk-3 facilitates heme oxygenase-1 induction in macrophages

p53-inducible long non-coding RNA PICART1 mediates cancer cell proliferation and migration

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) function in the development and progression of cancer, but only a small portion of lncRNAs have been characterized to date. A novel lncRNA transcript, 2.53 kb in length, was identified by transcriptome sequencing analysis, and was named p53-inducible cancer-associated RNA transcript 1 (PICART1). PICART1 was found to be upregulated by p53 through a p53-binding site at -1808 to -1783 bp. In breast and colorectal cancer cells and tissues, PICART1 expression was found to be decreased. Ectopic expression of PICART1 suppressed the growth, proliferation, migration, and invasion of MCF7, MDA-MB-231 and HCT116 cells whereas silencing of PICART1 stimulated cell growth and migration. In these cells, the expression of PICART1 suppressed levels of p-AKT (Thr308 and Ser473) and p-GSK3β (Ser9), and accordingly, β-catenin, cyclin D1 and c-Myc expression were decreased, while p21Waf/cip1 expression was increased. Together these data suggest that PICART1 is a novel p53-inducible tumor-suppressor lncRNA, functioning through the AKT/GSK3β/β-catenin signaling cascade.

Elk-3 is a KLF4-regulated gene that modulates the phagocytosis of bacteria by macrophages

ETS family proteins play a role in immune responses. A unique member of this family, Elk-3, is a transcriptional repressor that regulates the expression of HO-1. Elk-3 is very sensitive to the effects of inflammatory mediators and is down-regulated by bacterial endotoxin (LPS). In the present study, exposure of mouse macrophages to Escherichia coli LPS resulted in decreased, full-length, and splice-variant isoforms of Elk-3. We isolated the Elk-3 promoter and demonstrated that LPS also decreased promoter activity. The Elk-3 promoter contains GC-rich regions that are putative binding sites for zinc-finger transcription factors, such as Sp1 and KLFs. Mutation of the GC-rich region from bp -613 to -603 blunted LPS-induced down-regulation of the Elk-3 promoter. Similar to the LPS response, coexpression of KLF4 led to repression of Elk-3 promoter activity, whereas coexpression of Sp1 increased activity. ChIP assays revealed that KLF4 binding to the Elk-3 promoter was increased by LPS exposure, and Sp1 binding was decreased. Thus, down-regulation of Elk-3 by bacterial LPS is regulated, in part, by the transcriptional repressor KLF4. Overexpression of Elk-3, in the presence of E. coli bacteria, resulted in decreased macrophage phagocytosis. To determine whether limited expression of HO-1 may contribute to this response, we exposed HO-1-deficient bone marrow-derived macrophages to E. coli and found a comparable reduction in bacterial phagocytosis. These data suggest that down-regulation of Elk-3 and the subsequent induction of HO-1 are important for macrophage function during the inflammatory response to infection.

Oroxylin A exerts anti-inflammatory activity on lipopolysaccharide-induced mouse macrophage via Nrf2/ARE activation

Regulating inflammation could be an important measure for the effective treatment of cancer. Here we examine the mechanisms by which oroxylin A inhibits inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. The results demonstrate that pretreatment with oroxylin A (50, 100, and 150 μmol/L) inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced mRNA and protein expression of COX-2 and iNOS. In addition, oroxylin A significantly increased the protein expression of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1), and NADP(H):quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1), induced Nrf2 translocation to the nucleus and up-regulated antioxidant response element (ARE)-luciferase reporter activity. Moreover, oroxylin A inhibited Nrf2 ubiquitination and proteasome activity. Transfection with Nrf2 siRNA knocked down Nrf2 expression and partially reversed oroxylin A-mediated inhibition of LPS-induced COX-2 and iNOS expression. Importantly, we showed for the first time that Nrf2 plays an important role in oroxylin A-suppressed inflammation in RAW264.7 cells. Uncovering the effect of oroxylin A on the regulation of Nrf2 signaling may be beneficial for developing new therapeutic strategies against inflammatory diseases.

The regulation of iron metabolism in the mononuclear phagocyte system

The daily iron absorption and loss are small and iron metabolism in human is characterized by a limited external exchange and by an efficient reutilization of iron from internal sources. The mononuclear phagocyte system (MPS) plays a key role in recycling iron from hemoglobin of senescent or damaged erythrocytes, which is important in maintaining iron homeostasis. Many iron-related proteins are expressed in the MPS, including heme oxygenase (HO) for heme degradation, the iron importer transferrin receptor 1 (TfR1) and divalent metal transport 1 (DMT1), the iron exporter ferroportin 1 (FPN1) and the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin. Insights into the regulatory mechanisms that control the regulation of iron metabolism proteins in the MPS will deepen our understanding about the molecular mechanism of iron homeostasis and iron-related diseases.

microRNA 21-mediated suppression of Sprouty1 by Pokemon affects liver cancer cell growth and proliferation

Transcriptional repressor Pokemon is a critical factor in embryogenesis, development, cell proliferation, differentiation, and oncogenesis, thus behaving as an oncogene. Oncomine database suggests a potential correlation between the expressions of Pokemon and Sprouty1. This study investigated the regulatory role of Pokemon in Sprouty1 expression and the effect on liver cancer cell growth and proliferation, revealing a novel miR-21-mediated regulatory circuit. In normal (HL-7702) and cancer (QGY-7703) liver cell lines, Sprouty1 expression is inversely correlated with Pokemon levels. Targeted expression or siRNA-mediated silencing showed that Pokemon is a repressor of Sprouty1 expression at both mRNA and protein levels, but Pokemon cannot affect the promoter activity of Sprouty1. Sprouty1 is a target of miR-21 and interestingly, we found that miR-21 is up-regulated by Pokemon in liver cancer cells. Luciferase reporter assays showed that Pokemon up-regulated miR-21 transcription in a dose-dependent manner, and ChIP assay exhibited a direct binding of Pokemon to the miR-21 promoter at -747 to -399 bp. Site-directed mutagenesis of the GC boxes at -684 to -679 bp and -652 to -647 bp of miR-21 promoter abolished the regulatory activity by Pokemon. Furthermore, we found that the modulation of Pokemon and miR-21 expression affected the growth and proliferation of liver cancer cells QGY-7703. In summary, our findings demonstrate that Pokemon suppresses Sprouty1 expression through a miR-21-mediated mechanism, affecting the growth and proliferation of liver cancer cells. This study recognized miR-21 and Sprouty1 as novel targets of the Pokemon regulatory network.

Computational identification of conserved transcription factor binding sites upstream of genes induced in rat brain by transient focal ischemic stroke

Microarray analysis has been used to understand how gene regulation plays a critical role in neuronal injury, survival and repair following ischemic stroke. To identify the transcriptional regulatory elements responsible for ischemia-induced gene expression, we examined gene expression profiles of rat brains following focal ischemia and performed computational analysis of consensus transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) in the genes of the dataset. In this study, rats were sacrificed 24 h after middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) stroke and gene transcription in brain tissues following ischemia/reperfusion was examined using Affymetrix GeneChip technology. The CONserved transcription FACtor binding site (CONFAC) software package was used to identify over-represented TFBS in the upstream promoter regions of ischemia-induced genes compared to control datasets. CONFAC identified 12 TFBS that were statistically over-represented from our dataset of ischemia-induced genes, including three members of the Ets-1 family of transcription factors (TFs). Microarray results showed that mRNA for Ets-1 was increased following tMCAO but not pMCAO. Immunohistochemical analysis of Ets-1 protein in rat brains following MCAO showed that Ets-1 was highly expressed in neurons in the brain of sham control animals. Ets-1 protein expression was virtually abolished in injured neurons of the ischemic brain but was unchanged in peri-infarct brain areas. These data indicate that TFs, including Ets-1, may influence neuronal injury following ischemia. These findings could provide important insights into the mechanisms that lead to brain injury and could provide avenues for the development of novel therapies.

Epidermal growth factor induces tumour marker AKR1B10 expression through activator protein-1 signalling in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

AKR1B10 (aldo-keto reductase 1B10) is overexpressed in liver and lung cancer, and plays a critical role in tumour development and progression through promoting lipogenesis and eliminating cytotoxic carbonyls. AKR1B10 is a secretory protein and potential tumour marker; however, little is known about the regulatory mechanism of AKR1B10 expression. The present study showed that AKR1B10 is induced by mitogen EGF (epidermal growth factor) and insulin through the AP-1 (activator protein-1) signalling pathway. In human HCC (hepatocellular carcinoma) cells (HepG2 and Hep3B), EGF (50 ng/ml) and insulin (10 nM) stimulated endogenous AKR1B10 expression and promoter activity. In the AKR1B10 promoter, a putative AP-1 element was found at bp -222 to -212. Deletion or mutation of this AP-1 element abrogated the basal promoter activity and response to EGF and AP-1 proteins. This AP-1 element bound to nuclear proteins extracted from HepG2 cells, and this binding was stimulated by EGF and insulin in a dose-dependent manner. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that the AP-1 proteins c-Fos and c-Jun were the predominant factors bound to the AP-1 consensus sequence, followed by JunD and then JunB. The same order was followed in the stimulation of endogenous AKR1B10 expression by AP-1 proteins. Furthermore, c-Fos shRNA (short hairpin RNA) and AP-1 inhibitors/antagonists (U0126 and Tanshinone IIA) inhibited endogenous AKR1B10 expression and promoter activity in HepG2 cells cultured in vitro or inoculated subcutaneously in nude mice. U0126 also inhibited AKR1B10 expression induced by EGF. Taken together, these results suggest that AKR1B10 is up-regulated by EGF and insulin through AP-1 mitogenic signalling and may be implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis.

Extracellular low pH modulates phosphatidylserine-dependent phagocytosis in macrophages by increasing stabilin-1 expression

Microenvironmental acidosis is a common feature of inflammatory loci, in which clearance of apoptotic cells is necessary for the resolution of inflammation. Although it is known that a low pH environment affects immune function, its effect on apoptotic cell clearance by macrophages has not been fully investigated. Here, we show that treatment of macrophages with low pH medium resulted in increased expression of stabilin-1 out of several receptors, which are known to be involved in PS-dependent removal of apoptotic cells. Reporter assays showed that the -120/-1 region of the mouse stabilin-1 promoter was a low pH-responsive region and provided evidence that extracellular low pH mediated transcriptional activation of stabilin-1 via Ets-2. Furthermore, extracellular low pH activated JNK, thereby inducing translocation of Ets-2 into the nucleus. When macrophages were preincubated with low pH medium, phagocytosis of phosphatidylserine-exposed red blood cells and phosphatidylserine-coated beads by macrophages was enhanced. Blockade of stabilin-1 in macrophages abolished the enhancement of phagocytic activity by low pH. Thus, our results demonstrate that a low pH microenvironment up-regulates stabilin-1 expression in macrophages, thereby modulating the phagocytic capacity of macrophages, and suggest roles for stabilin-1 and Ets-2 in the maintenance of tissue homeostasis by the immune system.

Transforming growth factor-β1 suppression of endotoxin-induced heme oxygenase-1 in macrophages involves activation of Smad2 and downregulation of Ets-2

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is a cytoprotective molecule that is induced during the response to injury. An increase in HO-1 is an acute indicator of inflammation, and early induction of HO-1 has been suggested to correlate with severity of injury. While a great deal is known about the induction of HO-1 by inflammatory mediators and bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), much less is known about the effects of anti-inflammatory mediators on HO-1 expression. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β is known to play a critical role in suppressing the immune response, and the TGF-β1 isoform is expressed in inflammatory cells. Thus, we wanted to investigate whether TGF-β1 could inhibit the expression of HO-1 during exposure to an inflammatory stimulus in macrophages. Here we demonstrate that TGF-β1 is able to downregulate LPS-induced HO-1 in mouse macrophages, and this reduction in HO-1 occurred through signaling of TGF-β1 via its type I receptor, and activation of Smad2. This TGF-β1 response is dependent on an intact Ets-binding site (EBS) located 93 base pairs upstream from the mouse HO-1 transcription start site. This EBS is known to be important for Ets-2 transactivation of HO-1 by LPS stimulation, and we show that TGF-β1 is able to suppress LPS-induced Ets-2 mRNA and protein levels in macrophages. Moreover, silencing of Smad2 is able to prevent the suppression of both HO-1 and Ets-2 by TGF-β1 during exposure to LPS. These data suggest that the return of HO-1 to basal levels during the resolution of an inflammatory response may involve its downregulation by anti-inflammatory mediators.

β₁-adrenergic receptor-mediated HO-1 induction, via PI3K and p38 MAPK, by isoproterenol in RAW 264.7 cells leads to inhibition of HMGB1 release in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells and increases in survival rate of CLP-induced septic mice

High mobility group box (HMGB)-1 plays an important role in sepsis-associated death in experimental studies. Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) inducers were reported to reduce HMGB1 release in experimental sepsis. Previously, we reported on the importance of the β₁-adrenergic receptor and protein kinase A pathway in the regulation of HO-1 expression by isoproterenol (ISO) in RAW 264.7 cells. We investigated whether ISO reduces HMGB1 release in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells and improves survival rate in septic mice due to HO-1 induction. ISO concentration-dependently increased HO-1 via Nrf-2 translocation and inhibited release of HMGB1 through the β₁-adrenergic receptor (β₁-AR) in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. This conclusion was supported by the finding that dobutamine but not salbutamol increased HO-1 expression in both RAW 264.7 cells. ISO failed to inhibit HMGB1 release when HO-1 expression was suppressed by ZnPPIX, an HO-1 inhibitor in RAW 264.7 cells. ISO significantly inhibited phosphorylation of IκB-α and NF-κB-driven luciferase activity in LPS-activated RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, LY294002, a PI3K inhibitor, and SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor, significantly inhibited not only HO-1 induction but also HMGB1 release by ISO. Importantly, ISO increased HO-1 protein expression in heart and lung tissues, reduced HMGB1 in plasma and increased survival rate in CLP-treated septic mice, which was significantly reversed by co-treatment with ZnPPIX. Taken together, we conclude that inhibition of HMGB1 release during sepsis via β₁-AR-mediated HO-1 induction is a novel mechanism for the beneficial effects of ISO in the treatment of sepsis.

Pro-oncogene Pokemon promotes breast cancer progression by upregulating survivin expression

Introduction

Pokemon is an oncogenic transcription factor involved in cell growth, differentiation and oncogenesis, but little is known about its role in human breast cancer. In this study, we aimed to reveal the role of Pokemon in breast cancer progression and patient survival and to understand its underlying mechanisms.

Methods

Tissue microarray analysis of breast cancer tissues from patients with complete clinicopathological data and more than 20 years of follow-up were used to evaluate Pokemon expression and its correlation with the progression and prognosis of the disease. DNA microarray analysis of MCF-7 cells that overexpress Pokemon was used to identify Pokemon target genes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and site-directed mutagenesis were utilized to determine how Pokemon regulates survivin expression, a target gene.

Results

Pokemon was found to be overexpressed in 158 (86.8%) of 182 breast cancer tissues, and its expression was correlated with tumor size (P = 0.0148) and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.0014). Pokemon expression led to worse overall (n = 175, P = 0.01) and disease-related (n = 79, P = 0.0134) patient survival. DNA microarray analyses revealed that in MCF-7 breast cancer cells, Pokemon regulates the expression of at least 121 genes involved in several signaling and metabolic pathways, including anti-apoptotic survivin. In clinical specimens, Pokemon and survivin expression were highly correlated (n = 49, r = 0.6799, P < 0.0001). ChIP and site-directed mutagenesis indicated that Pokemon induces survivin expression by binding to the GT boxes in its promoter.

Conclusions

Pokemon promotes breast cancer progression by upregulating survivin expression and thus may be a potential target for the treatment of this malignancy.

The counter-regulatory effects of ESE-1 during angiotensin II-mediated vascular inflammation and remodeling

BACKGROUND

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a critical mediator vascular inflammation and remodeling in a number of diseases including hypertension and atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of the epithelium-specific ETS transcription factor-1 (ESE-1), a member of E26 transformation-specific sequence (ETS) transcription factors, as a mediator of Ang II-mediated vascular responses.

METHODS

ESE-1 knockout mice were used to evaluate the role of ESE-1 in regulating Ang II-mediated vascular inflammation and remodeling.

RESULTS

ESE-1 levels are low to undetectable under basal conditions but rapidly increase in response to Ang II. Intimal medial thickness and perivascular fibrosis of the aorta were significantly greater in ESE-1 knockout mice compared with the wild-type littermate controls. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) staining was also greater in the aorta of the Ang II-infused ESE-1 knockout mice compared with the controls. The infiltration of T cells and macrophage into the vessel wall of the aorta was dramatically enhanced in the ESE-1 knockout mice compared with the controls. Finally, Ang II-induced expression of a known downstream target of ESE-1, nitric oxide synthase 2 (NOS2), was significantly blunted in ESE-1 knockout mice compared to littermate controls. The alterations in vascular inflammation and remodeling were associated with an exaggerated systolic blood pressure response to Ang II in ESE-1 knockout mice.

CONCLUSIONS

ESE-1 is an Ang II-inducible transcription factor that plays an important counter-regulatory role in the setting of vascular inflammation and remodeling.

Regulation of heme oxygenase-1 gene by peptidoglycan involves the interaction of Elk-1 and C/EBPalpha to increase expression

Heme oxygenase (HO)-1 is a cytoprotective enzyme with anti-inflammatory properties. HO-1 is induced during a systemic inflammatory response, and expression of HO-1 is beneficial during sepsis of a Gram-positive source. Systemic infection from Gram-positive organisms has emerged as an important cause of sepsis, with Staphylococcus aureus as a common etiology. An important mediator of Gram-positive infections is peptidoglycan (PGN), a cell wall component of these organisms. Here, we demonstrate that HO-1 played an important, protective role in vivo, as mice deficient in HO-1 were very sensitive to the lethal effects of PGN derived from S. aureus. PGN induced HO-1 protein and mRNA levels, and this regulation occurred at the level of gene transcription. The PGN-responsive region of the HO-1 promoter (from -117 to -66 bp) contains a functional EBS, and Ets proteins are known to be involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses. We showed previously that Ets factors (activators Ets-2 and Ets-1 and repressor Elk-3) regulate HO-1 expression by Gram-negative endotoxin. However, during exposure to a Gram-positive stimulus in the present study, Elk-1 was a potent activator of HO-1 in conjunction with PGN. The ability of Elk-1 to induce HO-1 promoter activity was independent of direct DNA binding, but rather occurred by interacting with the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBPalpha), which binds to DNA. Moreover, silencing of C/EBPalpha in macrophages prevented induction of HO-1 promoter activity by either Elk-1 or PGN. These data provide further insight into the regulation and function of HO-1 by a mediator of Gram-positive bacteria.

Lipopolysaccharide suppresses HIV-1 replication in human monocytes by protein kinase C-dependent heme oxygenase-1 induction

LPS is an important component of the Gram-negative bacteria cell wall. It activates monocytes and induces multiple host immune and inflammatory responses. Interestingly, in spite of inducing host-inflammatory responses, LPS also protects monocyte-derived macrophages from infection by HIV-1. In this report, we have shown that LPS treatment of human monocyte-derived macrophages markedly suppressed HIV-1 replication, even on addition to infected cells 24 h after infection. Inhibition of HIV-1 replication was associated with PKC-dependent induction of HO-1, a cytoprotective enzyme known to catabolize heme. Pretreatment with the PKC inhibitor Go 6976 not only substantially inhibited LPS-mediated induction of HO-1 but also attenuated LPS-induced suppression of HIV replication. Significant reduction of HIV replication by inhibitors of JNK, NF-kappaB, and PI3K was independent of a LPS-mediated anti-HIV effect. Specificity of HO-1 was confirmed by substantial reversal of LPS-induced viral replication by pretreatment of cells with SnPP IX, an inhibitor of HO-1 enzyme activity. These results demonstrate a previously undefined function of HO-1 as a host defense mechanism in LPS-mediated inhibition of HIV-1 replication.

Suppression of PLCbeta2 by endotoxin plays a role in the adenosine A(2A) receptor-mediated switch of macrophages from an inflammatory to an angiogenic phenotype

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 2, 4, 7, and 9 agonists, together with adenosine A(2A) receptor (A(2A)R) agonists, switch macrophages from an inflammatory (M1) to an angiogenic (M2-like) phenotype. This switch involves induction of A(2A)Rs by TLR agonists, down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) and interleukin-12, and up-regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-10 expression. We show here that the TLR4 agonist lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces rapid and specific post-transcriptional down-regulation of phospholipase C(PLC)beta1 and beta2 expression in macrophages by de-stabilizing their mRNAs. The PLCbeta inhibitor U73122 down-regulates TNFalpha expression by macrophages, and in the presence of A(2A)R agonists, up-regulates VEGF, mimicking the synergistic action of LPS with A(2A)R agonists. Selective down-regulation of PLCbeta2, but not PLCbeta1, using small-interfering RNA resulted in increased VEGF expression in response to A(2A)R agonists, but did not suppress TNFalpha expression. Macrophages from PLCbeta2(-/-) mice also expressed increased VEGF in response to A(2A)R agonists. LPS-mediated suppression of PLCbeta1 and beta2 is MyD88-dependent. In a model of endotoxic shock, LPS (35 microg/mouse, i.p.) suppressed PLCbeta1 and beta2 expression in spleen, liver, and lung of wild-type but not MyD88(-/-) mice. These studies indicate that LPS suppresses PLCbeta1 and beta2 expression in macrophages in vitro and in several tissues in vivo. These results suggest that suppression of PLCbeta2 plays an important role in switching M1 macrophages into an M2-like state.

Antiinflammatory effects of the ETS factor ERG in endothelial cells are mediated through transcriptional repression of the interleukin-8 gene

ERG (Ets-related gene) is an ETS transcription factor that has recently been shown to regulate a number of endothelial cell (EC)-restricted genes including VE-cadherin, von Willebrand factor, endoglin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-2. Our preliminary data demonstrate that unlike other ETS factors, ERG exhibits a highly EC-restricted pattern of expression in cultured primary cells and several adult mouse tissues including the heart, lung, and brain. In response to inflammatory stimuli, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, we observed a marked reduction of ERG expression in ECs. To further define the role of ERG in the regulation of normal EC function, we used RNA interference to knock down ERG. Microarray analysis of RNA derived from ERG small interfering RNA- or tumor necrosis factor-alpha-treated human umbilical vein (HUV)ECs revealed significant overlap (P<0.01) in the genes that are up- or downregulated. Of particular interest to us was a significant change in expression of interleukin (IL)-8 at both protein and RNA levels. Exposure of ECs to tumor necrosis factor-alpha is known to be associated with increased neutrophil attachment. We observed that knockdown of ERG in HUVECs is similarly associated with increased neutrophil attachment compared to control small interfering RNA-treated cells. This enhanced adhesion could be blocked with IL-8 neutralizing or IL-8 receptor blocking antibodies. ERG can inhibit the activity of the IL-8 promoter in a dose dependent manner. Direct binding of ERG to the IL-8 promoter in ECs was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. In summary, our findings support a role for ERG in promoting antiinflammatory effects in ECs through repression of inflammatory genes such as IL-8.

Regulation of haeme oxygenase-1 for treatment of neuroinflammation and brain disorders

Injury to the CNS elicits a host defense reaction that utilizes astrocytes, microglia, neurons and oligodendrocytes. Neuroinflammation is a major host defense mechanism designed to restore normal structure and function after CNS insult, but like other forms of inflammation, chronic neuroinflammation may contribute to pathogenesis. The inducible haeme oxygenase isoform, haeme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), is a phase 2 enzyme upregulated in response to electrophilic xenobiotics, oxidative stress, cellular injury and disease. There is emerging evidence that HO-1 expression helps mediate the resolution of inflammation, including neuroinflammation. Whether this is solely because of the catabolism of haeme or includes additional mechanisms is unclear. This review provides a brief background on the molecular biology and biochemistry of haeme oxygenases and the actions of haeme, bilirubin, iron and carbon monoxide in the CNS. It then presents our current state of knowledge regarding HO-1 expression in the CNS, regulation of HO-1 induction in neural cells and discusses the prospect of pharmacological manipulation of HO-1 as therapy for CNS disorders. Because of recognized species and cellular differences in HO-1 regulation, a major objective of this review is to draw attention to areas where gaps exist in the experimental record regarding regulation of HO-1 in neural cells. The results indicate the HO-1 system to be an important therapeutic target in CNS disorders, but our understanding of HO-1 expression in human neural cells is severely lacking.

Absence of cyclooxygenase-2 exacerbates hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and enhances contractility of vascular smooth muscle cells

BACKGROUND

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is upregulated in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) during hypoxia and may play a protective role in the response of the lung to hypoxia. Selective COX-2 inhibition may have detrimental pulmonary vascular consequences during hypoxia.

METHODS AND RESULTS

To investigate the role of COX-2 in the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia, we subjected wild-type and COX-2-deficient mice to a model of chronic normobaric hypoxia. COX-2-null mice developed severe pulmonary hypertension with exaggerated elevation of right ventricular systolic pressure, significant right ventricular hypertrophy, and striking vascular remodeling after hypoxia. Pulmonary vascular remodeling in COX-2-deficient mice was characterized by PASMC hypertrophy but not increased proliferation. Furthermore, COX-2-deficient mice had significant upregulation of the endothelin-1 receptor (ET(A)) in the lung after hypoxia. Similarly, selective pharmacological inhibition of COX-2 in wild-type mice exacerbated hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and resulted in PASMC hypertrophy and increased ET(A) receptor expression in pulmonary arterioles. The absence of COX-2 in vascular smooth muscle cells during hypoxia in vitro augmented traction forces and enhanced contractility of an extracellular matrix. Treatment of COX-2-deficient PASMCs with iloprost, a prostaglandin I(2) analog, and prostaglandin E(2) abrogated the potent contractile response to hypoxia and restored the wild-type phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal that hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling are exacerbated in the absence of COX-2 with enhanced ET(A) receptor expression and increased PASMC hypertrophy. COX-2-deficient PASMCs have a maladaptive response to hypoxia manifested by exaggerated contractility, which may be rescued by either COX-2-derived prostaglandin I(2) or prostaglandin E(2).

PU.1 (Sfpi1), a pleiotropic regulator expressed from the first embryonic stages with a crucial function in germinal progenitors

In the adult mammalian testis, spermatogenic differentiation starts from a minute population of spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs). SSCs are generated after birth from the fetal gonocytes, themselves derived from the primordial germ cells (PGCs), which are specified during the first days after implantation. Transcriptome profiling of purified preparations evidenced the preferential accumulation in SSCs of transcripts of PU.1(Sfpi1), a regulatory gene previously identified in hematopoietic progenitors. In situ immunolabeling and RNA determination showed a complex pattern of expression in the adult testis, first in SSCs and early spermatogonia followed by de novo expression in pachytene spermatocytes. Spermatogenesis in a null mutant (PU.1G/G) was arrested at the prenatal stage, with reduced numbers of gonocytes owing to a defect in proliferation already noticeable at E12.5. Transcripts of several germinal markers, including vasa (Mvh, Ddx4), Oct4 (Pou5f1), Dazl and Taf4b, were detected, whereas stella (PGC7,Dppa3) was not. Germ cells of PU.1G/G newborn testes grafted in nude mice did not initiate the postnatal replicative stage, whereas grafts of their wild-type littermates underwent complete spermatogenesis. During embryonic development, PU.1 transcription was initiated as early as the blastocyst stage, with a generalized expression at E6.5 in the embryonic ectoderm. PU.1 therefore appears to play a determinant role in at least two distinct lineages and, given its wide range of expression,possibly in other stem cells.

The ternary complex factor net is downregulated by hypoxia and regulates hypoxia-responsive genes

Hypoxia and the Net ternary complex factor (TCF) regulate similar processes (angiogenesis, wound healing, and cellular migration) and genes (PAI-1, c-fos, erg-1, NOS-2, HO-1, and vascular endothelial growth factor genes), suggesting that they are involved in related pathways. We show here that hypoxia regulates Net differently from the other TCFs and that Net plays a role in the hypoxic response in vivo in mice and in cells. Hypoxia induces Net depletion from target promoters, nuclear export, ubiquitylation, and proteasomal degradation. Key mediators of the hypoxic response, the prolyl-4-hydroxylases containing domain proteins (PHDs), regulate Net. PHD downregulation in normoxia leads to Net degradation, and PHD overexpression delays Net downregulation by hypoxia. Net inhibition by RNA interference or mutation leads to altered regulation by hypoxia of the Net targets PAI-1, c-fos, and egr-1. We propose that hypoxia stimulates transcription of target promoters through removal of the repressor function of Net. Interestingly, the hematocrit response to a chemical inducer of hypoxia-like responses (cobalt chloride) is strongly altered in Net mutant mice. Our results show that the Net TCF is part of the biological response to hypoxia, adding a new component to an important pathological and physiological process.

Regulation of vascular inflammation and remodeling by ETS factors

The ETS (E26 Transformation-specific Sequence) factors are comprised of a family of transcription factors that share a highly conserved DNA binding domain. Although originally described for their role as protooncogenes in the development of several types of human cancer, they have subsequently been shown to regulate a wide variety of biological processes including cellular growth and differentiation under normal and pathological conditions. As transcription factors, they can either function as activators or repressors of gene expression. Several ETS family members are expressed in cells of vascular origin, including endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, where they regulate the expression of a number of vascular-specific genes. In the past few years, emerging evidence supports a novel role for selected ETS family members in the regulation of vascular inflammation and remodeling. ETS factor expression can be induced by proinflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and vasoactive peptides. Examples of some of the target genes regulated by ETS factors include adhesion molecules, chemokines, and matrix metalloproteinases. Targeted disruption of selected ETS family members such as Ets-1 in mice is associated with marked reductions in the recruitment of inflammatory cells and vascular remodeling in response to systemic administration of the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of recent advances that have been made in defining a role for selected members of the ETS transcription factor family in the regulation of vascular-specific gene expression, vascular inflammation, and remodeling.