Biomedical subjects

A C Larner

Publications and source records attributed to A C Larner.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1994

Cytokines that associate with the signal transducer gp130 activate the interferon-induced transcription factor p91 by tyrosine phosphorylation.

Interleukin-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, and oncostatin M exert a broad range of similar biological activities through association of their receptors with the signal-transducing component gp130. Although it is known that these cytokines trigger rapid tyrosine phosphorylation of a common set of cellular proteins as well as induction of several of the same early response genes, the mechanisms by which these genes are activated is not well understood. In this report, we show that interleukin-6, leukemia inhibitory factor, and oncostatin M stimulate the assembly of protein complexes that recognize conserved sequences within the enhancers of two genes (interferon regulatory factor 1 and Fc gamma receptor type I) that are rapidly activated by these cytokines. These enhancers are known to be required for transcriptional induction of these genes by interferon-gamma. Assembly of the DNA-binding protein complexes occurs within minutes after ligand addition and depends upon tyrosine phosphorylation. These complexes contain the p91 transcription factor, which is tyrosine-phosphorylated in response to these cytokines. An additional tyrosine-phosphorylated protein of 93 kDa can be coimmunoprecipitated with antibodies against p91. These findings further expand the network of cytokines known to activate p91 and, in addition, support the concept that sets of tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins may be responsible for the cytokine-regulated expression of early response genes.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Growth hormone induces a DNA binding factor related to the interferon-stimulated 91-kDa transcription factor.

Signaling mechanisms leading to regulation of gene transcription by growth hormone (GH) and other molecules that signal via the cytokine receptor family have been elusive. Based upon recent findings that GH and interferons activate JAK family tyrosine kinases, we have identified a novel signaling pathway leading from the GH receptor to the nucleus. We report that in 3T3-F442A fibroblasts, GH stimulates tyrosyl phosphorylation of a protein recognized by antibody to p91, a component of DNA-binding complexes that are activated by tyrosyl phosphorylation in response to interferons alpha and gamma. In addition, a GH-inducible DNA binding factor (GHIF) is identified that binds to the c-sis-inducible element of the c-fos promoter. GHIF contains a protein antigenically related to p91 and is tyrosyl-phosphorylated. These findings indicate that in signaling between their receptors and the nucleus, GH and interferons utilize related or identical components, including JAK family tyrosine kinases and proteins in the p91 family. When combined with recent findings that many members of the cytokine receptor family activate JAK kinases, including some cytokines that activate p91-related proteins, these findings suggest that signaling pathways involving JAK kinases and p91 family members may be broadly distributed.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1994

Human cancer cell lines express a negative transcriptional regulator of the interferon regulatory factor family of DNA binding proteins.

Members of the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) family of DNA binding transcription factors have roles in growth regulation, antiviral responses, and transcriptional induction of interferon (IFN)-activated early response genes. The IRF family member ISGF3 gamma is the DNA binding component of IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3), a multicomponent complex responsible for the stimulation of IFN-alpha-responsive genes. IFN-alpha-stimulated formation of ISGF3 and subsequent gene expression can be inhibited by phorbol esters or expression of the adenovirus E1A protein. We have investigated IFN signaling in human malignant tumor cell lines of the lung, colon, ovary, cervix, and hematopoietic organs and found some of these cells to be defective for IFN-alpha-induced formation of ISGF3. In many cases, an inhibitory activity termed transcriptional knockout (TKO) correlated with nonresponsiveness. TKO purified from a human papillomavirus-negative cervical carcinoma cell line has a molecular size of 19 kDa. The purified protein interacted with the ISGF3 gamma component of ISGF3, preventing binding of ISGF3 to DNA. Purified TKO displaced ISGF3 from its DNA binding site in vitro and prevented ISGF3 gamma, IRF-1, and IRF-2 from interacting with the IFN-stimulated response element. Partially purified TKO can also directly interact with ISGF3 gamma in the absence of DNA. This protein may be involved with the development of malignancies and the inability of IFN to exert its antiproliferative and antiviral effects.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Tyrosine phosphorylation of DNA binding proteins by multiple cytokines.

Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) and IFN-gamma regulate gene expression by tyrosine phosphorylation of several transcription factors that have the 91-kilodalton (p91) protein of interferon-stimulated gene factor-3 (ISGF-3) as a common component. Interferon-activated protein complexes bind enhancers present in the promoters of early response genes such as the high-affinity Fc gamma receptor gene (Fc gamma RI). Treatment of human peripheral blood monocytes or basophils with interleukin-3 (IL-3), IL-5, IL-10, or granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) activated DNA binding proteins that recognized the IFN-gamma response region (GRR) located in the promoter of the Fc gamma RI gene. Although tyrosine phosphorylation was required for the assembly of each of these GRR binding complexes, only those formed as a result of treatment with IFN-gamma or IL-10 contained p91. Instead, complexes activated by IL-3 or GM-CSF contained a tyrosine-phosphorylated protein of 80 kilodaltons. Induction of Fc gamma RI RNA occurred only with IFN-gamma and IL-10, whereas pretreatment of cells with GM-CSF or IL-3 inhibited IFN-gamma induction of Fc gamma RI RNA. Thus, several cytokines other than interferons can activate putative transcription factors by tyrosine phosphorylation.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

In vitro activation of the transcription factor ISGF3 by interferon alpha involves a membrane-associated tyrosine phosphatase and tyrosine kinase.

Interaction of interferon alpha (IFN alpha) with its cell surface receptor rapidly activates the formation of the transcription complex ISGF3, which subsequently translocates to the nucleus and stimulates the expression of a variety of early response genes. We have recently developed a cell-free system where IFN alpha can activate the formation of ISGF3 in vitro. This system has enabled us to demonstrate that the component of the ISGF3 transcription complex which is modified by IFN alpha treatment (ISGF3 alpha) is membrane-associated and that its activation involves a protein kinase. Using a combination of specific tyrosine kinase and phosphatase inhibitors and monoclonal anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies we now are able to demonstrate that IFN alpha-activated transcription involves at least a two-step process where a membrane-associated tyrosine phosphatase and a tyrosine kinase lead to modification of ISGF3 alpha and subsequent formation of the complete complex. Furthermore, formation of the ISGF3 complex is specifically disrupted by protein tyrosine phosphatase and can be reversibly dissociated by the phosphotyrosine analogue phenylphosphate. The latter observation suggested that SH2 and/or SH3 domains may be required for the stable formation of this transcription complex.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

Culture of human monocytes with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor results in enhancement of IFN-gamma receptors but suppression of IFN-gamma-induced expression of the gene IP-10.

The initiation and promulgation of chronic inflammation are controlled in part by the various pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines present at the site of injury. IFN-gamma and granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) are two cytokines that can contribute to the inflammatory state and possess both pro- and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the characterization of the interaction between GM-CSF-cultured monocytes and IFN-gamma is poorly documented. In this report we show that culture of human peripheral blood monocytes for up to 6 days in the presence of GM-CSF results in an eightfold increase in the level of IFN-gamma R expression, as determined by radioligand binding. The IFN-gamma R on these cells maintains a specificity typical of that observed in fresh monocytes. Only IFN-gamma, not IFN-alpha or -beta, blocks the binding of IFN-gamma to its receptor, and anti-IFN-gamma R antibodies block at least 80% of binding of IFN-gamma to these cultured cells. However, in spite of increased receptor expression, GM-CSF-cultured monocytes have a diminished response to IFN-gamma, as measured by the induction of the gene for IP-10 (a member of the platelet factor-4/IL-8 family). On the other hand, IFN-gamma-induced activation of the DNA-binding protein FcRF gamma is maintained in GM-CSF-cultured monocytes. Therefore, suppression of IFN-gamma-mediated IP-10 induction is not the result of a global abrogation of signal transduction across the IFN-gamma R but a more selective inhibition that appears to occur downstream of the receptor.

Adjuvants, Immunologic↗

PubMed1993

IL-4 attenuates the transcriptional activation of both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma-induced cellular gene expression in monocytes and monocytic cell lines.

The interaction of IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma with monocytes results in several actions that significantly influence the course of an immune response. Many of these effects are proinflammatory and can contribute to the degree of tissue injury at a site of inflammation. Whereas recent investigations target IL-4 as a T cell product that can antagonize some of the responses induced by IFN, little is known regarding the mechanisms involved. We have taken advantage of two well defined systems: the transcriptional activation of the cellular genes ISG-54 by IFN-alpha and IP-10 by IFN-gamma. IL-4 treatment of both the monocytic leukemia cell line, THP-1, and normal peripheral blood monocytes resulted in inhibition of IFN-induced RNA levels for both genes. Nuclear run-on assays in THP-1 cells indicated that the effects of IL-4 were due to the inhibition of the transcriptional activation of these genes by both IFN-alpha and IFN-gamma. This inhibition was not due to alteration in the binding characteristics of IFN-alpha or IFN-gamma to the cell. In the IFN-alpha system, we were able to show that IL-4 treatment resulted in reduced formation of the transcriptional activator, IFN-stimulated gene factor 3. This reduction appears to be the result of a defect in the ability of IFN alpha to activate the IFN-stimulated gene factor 3 alpha component of IFN-stimulated gene factor 3.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

A nuclear tyrosine phosphatase downregulates interferon-induced gene expression.

Alpha and gamma interferons rapidly induce several early response genes in primary human diploid fibroblasts. The transcription rates of these genes are maximal after 1 h of interferon treatment and return to basal levels within 8 h. Three different interferon-activated DNA-binding complexes (ISGF3, GAF, and FcRF gamma) that are responsible for transcriptional activation of cellular genes have been characterized. Assembly of these complexes requires tyrosine phosphorylation of one or more of the protein components. In this report, we demonstrate that a nuclear tyrosine phosphatase is responsible for the deactivation of these interferon-regulated transcription factors and the subsequent transcriptional downregulation of the corresponding genes. Furthermore, tyrosine phosphorylation is required for nuclear localization of the 91-kDa protein that is part of all three interferon-induced transcription complexes. These results provide the first evidence for a nuclear tyrosine phosphatase activity as a mechanism of transcriptional regulation.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1993

In vitro activation of the transcription factor gamma interferon activation factor by gamma interferon: evidence for a tyrosine phosphatase/kinase signaling cascade.

Although it has been well documented that the biological activities of gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) are initiated through interaction with its cell surface receptor, the signal transduction mechanisms which mediate the effects of this cytokine have remained unclear. In order to facilitate a better understanding of IFN-gamma signaling, we have designed an assay using human fibroblast cell homogenates in which IFN-gamma activates the formation of the IFN-gamma activation factor (GAF) transcription complex. GAF mediates the rapid transcriptional activation of the guanylate-binding protein gene by IFN-gamma. Activation of GAF in homogenates required ATP, but not Ca2+ or GTP. Fractionation of homogenates indicated that both the pellet (18,000 x g) and the remaining cytoplasmic fraction were required for GAF activation by IFN-gamma. In intact cells and cell homogenates, the activation of GAF was prevented by the specific tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein. Treatment of GAF-containing nuclear extracts with either monoclonal antiphosphotyrosine antibody or protein tyrosine phosphatase prevented the assembly of the transcription complex, indicating that its formation required phosphorylation of tyrosine residues. Furthermore, the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitors phenylarsine oxide and zinc chloride also inhibited GAF formation in vitro, but only if these agents were added to cell homogenates before IFN-gamma was added. The addition of either agent 5 min after IFN-gamma had no effect. These results provide the first evidence for an IFN-gamma-regulated tyrosine phosphatase/kinase signaling cascade that permits this cytokine to activate the transcription of an early-response gene.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗

PubMed1993

In vitro activation of a transcription factor by gamma interferon requires a membrane-associated tyrosine kinase and is mimicked by vanadate.

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) activates the formation of a DNA-binding protein complex (FcRF gamma) that recognizes the gamma response region (GRR) of the promoter for the human high-affinity Fc gamma receptor. In a membrane-enriched fraction prepared from human peripheral blood monocytes, IFN-gamma activation of FcRF gamma occurred within 1 min and was ATP dependent. Activation of FcRF gamma required a tyrosine kinase activity, and recognition of the GRR sequence by FcRF gamma could be abrogated by treatment with a tyrosine-specific protein phosphatase. Treatment of cells with vanadate alone resulted in the formation of FcRF gamma without the need for IFN-gamma. UV cross-linking and antibody competition experiments demonstrated that the FcRF gamma complex was composed of at least two components: the 91-kDa protein of the IFN-alpha-induced transcription complex ISGF3 and a 43-kDa component that bound directly to the GRR. Therefore, specificity for IFN-induced transcriptional activation of early response genes requires at least two events: (i) ligand-induced activation of membrane-associated protein by tyrosine phosphorylation and (ii) formation of a complex composed of an activated membrane protein(s) and a sequence-specific DNA-binding component.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Activation of transcription factors by interferon-alpha in a cell-free system.

The signal transduction mechanisms of interferons (IFNs) remain unclear partly because no effect of IFN has been reproducible in a cell-free system. IFN-alpha rapidly induces the transcription of a set of early response genes, and a multicomponent transcriptional activator, interferon stimulated gene factor 3 (ISGF3), is activated within minutes after binding of IFN-alpha to its receptor. A system was developed in which IFN-alpha activated ISGF3 in homogenates of HeLa cells. Subcellular fractionation revealed that incubation of a plasma membrane-enriched fraction with IFN-alpha was sufficient to activate the regulatory subcomponent of ISGF3.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

A role for the Na/K-ATPase in the control of human c-fos and c-jun transcription.

The c-fos proto-oncogene is known to be regulated by a variety of hormones, growth factors, and other conditions that alter cellular metabolism. The regulation of c-fos RNA concentrations is known to occur both by altered RNA half-life and/or changes in the transcription rate of the gene. In most cases thus far investigated, induction of c-fos transcription by growth factors occurs very rapidly and transiently. Results presented in this paper show that ouabain, a specific inhibitor of the Na/K-ATPase increases the transcription of c-fos, as well as c-jun, in a variety of cultured cells. However, in contrast to other agents that induce c-fos and c-jun expression, the increased transcription rate of these genes in the presence of ouabain required several hours and remained elevated for at least 16 h. NIH 3T3 cells that have been transfected with deletions of the human c-fos promoter have enabled us to define at least two elements within the promotor that are regulated by ouabain. These include the serum response element and a region between 123 and 222 base pairs 5' to the start site of transcription. We speculate that regulation of the intracellular ion balance through changes in Na/K pump activity may be a general mechanism by which basal transcriptional activity of c-fos is modulated.

3T3 Cells↗

PubMed1992

Interferon-alpha-induced gene expression: evidence for a selective effect of ouabain on activation of the ISGF3 transcription complex.

Binding of interferons (IFNs) to their cell surface receptors stimulates rapid translocation of cytoplasmic proteins to the nucleus and the expression of a variety of cellular genes within minutes. Translocated proteins subsequently bind to the interferon-stimulated response element (ISRE) located in the promoters of all IFN-activated cellular genes. We report here that ouabain, a specific inhibitor of the Na/K ATPase, selectively inhibited transcription of several IFN-alpha-induced cellular RNAs under conditions in which some other well-described signal transduction pathways remained intact. The latter included induction of human metallothionein 2A (HMT2A) by phorbol ester and induction of IP-10 RNA by IFN-gamma. Ouabain itself induced RNA of the protooncogene c-fos which conversely was inhibited by IFN-alpha. Specificity of the ouabain effects on IFN alpha-induced RNAs with respect to a direct action on the Na/K ATPase was shown with a transfected monkey CV-1 cell line which expresses the ouabain-insensitive rat alpha 1 subunit. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) using nuclear extracts from ouabain-treated cells demonstrated that ouabain decreased IFN alpha-induced binding of the ISGF3 complex to the ISRE. Reconstitution experiments showed that this effect of ouabain is not due to the inhibition of IFN alpha activation of the ISGF3 alpha subcomponent, which occurs in the cytoplasm, but a selective depletion of the ISGF3 gamma factor which in concert with activated ISGF3 alpha induces interferon-stimulated gene (54 kDa) transcription. These findings imply that intracellular ion balance can selectively regulate the half-life of the ISGF3 gamma protein or the ability of this protein to complex with ISGF3 alpha to activate IFN alpha-regulated cellular genes.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1992

Modulation of interferon signaling in human fibroblasts by phorbol esters.

Phorbol esters activate the expression of a variety of early-response genes through protein kinase C-dependent pathways. In addition, phorbol esters may promote cell growth by the inhibition of expression of cellular gene products regulated by antiproliferative agents such as interferons (IFN)s. In human diploid fibroblasts, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) selectively inhibits the IFN-alpha-induced cellular gene ISG54. Using transient transfection assays, we have delineated two elements in the promoter of this gene that are necessary for the inhibitory actions of PMA. These elements include (i) the IFN-stimulated response element (ISRE) which is necessary for IFN-alpha-induced cellular gene expression, and (ii) an element located near the site of transcription initiation. IFN-alpha treatment resulted in the rapid induction of ISGF3, a multisubunit transcription factor which binds to the ISRE. PMA caused a substantial reduction in IFN alpha-induced ISGF3 in both nuclear and cytoplasmic extracts, as determined by electrophoretic mobility shift assays with the ISRE as a probe. In vitro reconstitution experiments revealed that IFN-alpha activation of the ISGF3 alpha component of ISGF3 was not affected by PMA. Further experiments were consistent with the possibility that PMA regulated the activity of a cellular factor which competed with ISGF3 gamma for binding of the activated ISGF3 alpha polypeptides. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays using the cap site of ISG54 as a probe demonstrated the formation of a specific complex whose DNA binding activity was not affected by treatment of cells with PMA or IFN-alpha. Competitive inhibition studies were consistent with the DNA-protein complex at the cap site of ISG54 containing proteins with DNA binding sites in common with those which also interact with the ISRE. These data suggest a unique regulatory mechanism by which phorbol esters can modulate IFN signaling.

Base Sequence↗

PubMed1991

Long-term effects of insulin on the enzyme activity and messenger RNA of glycogen synthase in rat hepatoma H4 cells: an effect of insulin on glycogen synthase mRNA stability.

Insulin induced glycogen synthase activity and decreased glycogen synthase mRNA concentrations in rat hepatoma H4 cells. Total enzyme activity measured with glucose 6-phosphate gradually increased during a 24-h insulin incubation. The time course of glycogen synthase activation measured by the activity ratio (low G-6-P/high G-6-P) in response to insulin was biphasic with the first peak at 15 min and the second peak at 4 to 6 h. When cells were incubated with insulin and cycloheximide, the first peak persisted while the second peak was abolished. These data suggest that the first activation peak derives from the classic effect of insulin via dephosphorylation and the second peak from an insulin-induced protein synthesis of a glycogen synthase activator. Ribonuclease protection assays with a cloned rat liver glycogen synthase cDNA were used to quantitate glycogen synthase mRNA. Insulin unexpectedly decreased glycogen synthase mRNA in a time- and a dose-dependent manner. After incubation with the RNA synthesis inhibitor, 5, 6-dichloro-1-beta-D-ribofuranosyl benzimidazole (DRB) without and with insulin, the half time of glycogen synthase mRNA decreased from 6.0 +/- 0.80 to 3.9 +/- 0.75 h, respectively. Nuclear run-off experiments with isolated nuclei showed no change of transcription of glycogen synthase mRNA. These data suggest that insulin in this system affects glycogen synthase mRNA stability rather than transcription.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Characterization of two independent mechanisms by which interferon-induced gene expression is down regulated.

Interferons (IFNs) induce the expression of a variety of cellular RNAs. Phorbol esters can inhibit IFN-induced expression of some of these RNAs, including ISG-54K. The actions of phorbol esters on IFN-activated ISG-54K transcription are cell specific and are reversed by inhibitors of protein synthesis. In those cell lines in which phorbol esters inhibit IFN-induced ISG-54K transcription, prolonged IFN exposure also induces a "desensitized state" such that further IFN exposure no longer induces ISG-54K expression. IFN-induced desensitization is also reversed by inhibitors of protein synthesis. Experiments are described to determine whether the mechanism by which phorbol esters inhibit IFN-activated ISG-54K expression is the same as the mechanism by which prolonged exposure to IFN makes cells refractory to further induction of ISG-54K expression. Cultured cells treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) for 72 h are desensitized to phorbol esters such that further addition of phorbols does not inhibit IFN-induced ISG-54K expression. In both naive and TPA-desensitized human fibroblasts or WISH cells, prolonged IFN treatment induced a desensitized state that was reversible by cycloheximide. This observation suggests that the mechanisms by which prolonged IFN treatment and phorbol esters inhibit ISG-54K expression are independent.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed1989

Phorbol ester-mediated down-regulation of an interferon-inducible gene.

Interferons (IFNs) induce the expression of a variety of cellular RNAs and inhibit phorbol ester induction of other genes. Experiments reported here indicate that phorbol esters can also specifically inhibit the expression of an IFN-induced RNA (IFN-IND-1). Phorbol esters exert their effects by inhibiting IFN-induced transcription of the gene that encodes IFN-IND-1 (ISG-54K); inhibitors of protein synthesis reverse the effects of these compounds. The actions of phorbol esters are only seen in those types of cultured cells where cycloheximide in the presence of IFN prevents long term IFN treatment of cells from inducing a "desensitized state." In desensitized cells, IFN is not able to reinduce the transcription of the RNA. Our results indicate that a protein kinase C-dependent pathway requiring protein synthesis may be one mechanism by which IFN is able to down regulate the transcription of genes whose expression it initially induces.

Cycloheximide↗

PubMed1988

Mapping of a DNA sequence that down-regulates the expression of an interferon-induced gene.

Recently, an interferon response element (IRE) of approximately 24 bp has been identified by Reich et al. (7) that allows certain genes to be actively transcribed by type I interferons (IFNs). The transcription of several IFN-induced genes in some cells (human fibroblasts and melanoma cells) is inhibited by long-term exposure to IFN. This process requires the synthesis of a new protein(s). Evidence is presented that this same IRE contains the information necessary for long-term IFN treatment to down-regulate the transcription of those genes whose expression it initially activates.

Cycloheximide↗