PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Hiroaki Daitoku

Publications and source records attributed to Hiroaki Daitoku.

16 recordsLinked to original sources

Insulin-like growth factor 1/insulin signaling activates androgen signaling through direct interactions of Foxo1 with androgen receptor.

The androgen-androgen receptor (AR) system plays vital roles in a wide array of biological processes, including prostate cancer development and progression. Several growth factors, such as insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), can induce AR activation, whereas insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia are correlated with an elevated incidence of prostate cancer. Here we report that Foxo1, a downstream molecule that becomes phosphorylated and inactivated by phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt kinase in response to IGF1 or insulin, suppresses ligand-mediated AR transactivation. Foxo1 reduces androgen-induced AR target gene expressions and suppresses the in vitro growth of prostate cancer cells. These inhibitory effects of Foxo1 are attenuated by IGF1 but are enhanced when it is rendered Akt-nonphosphorylatable. Foxo1 interacts directly with the C terminus of AR in a ligand-dependent manner and disrupts ligand-induced AR subnuclear compartmentalization. Foxo1 is recruited by liganded AR to the chromatin of AR target gene promoters, where it interferes with AR-DNA interactions. IGF1 or insulin abolish the Foxo1 occupancy of these promoters. Of interest, a positive feedback circuit working locally in an autocrine/intracrine manner may exist, because liganded AR up-regulates IGF1 receptor expression in prostate cancer cells, presumably resulting in higher IGF1 signaling tension and further enhancing the functions of the receptor itself. Thus, Foxo1 is a novel corepressor for AR, and IGF1/insulin signaling may confer stimulatory effects on AR by attenuating Foxo1 inhibition. These results highlight the potential involvement of metabolic syndrome and hyperinsulinemia in prostate diseases and further suggest that intervention of IGF1/insulin-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt signaling may be of clinical value for prostate diseases.

Animals↗

Mitogen-activated protein kinases, Erk and p38, phosphorylate and regulate Foxo1.

The members of the transcription factor Foxo family regulate the expression of genes concerned with the stress response, cell cycle and gluconeogenesis. Foxo1 (FKHR) contains 15 consensus phosphorylation sites for the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) family. Therefore, we hypothesized that MAPKs could directly regulate the transcriptional activity of Foxo1 via phosphorylation. In vitro kinase assay showed that Foxo1 was phosphorylated by extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) and p38 MAPK (p38) but not by c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK). In NIH3T3 cells, epidermal growth factor or anisomycin increased phosphorylation of exogenous Foxo1, which was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with an MEK 1 inhibitor, PD98059, or a p38 inhibitor, SB203580. Two-dimensional phosphopeptide mapping using mutation of phosphorylation sites for MAPK revealed that the nine serine residues in Foxo1 are specifically phosphorylated by Erk and that five of the nine residues are phosphorylated by p38 in vivo. Moreover, we also found that Foxo1 interacts with Ets-1 and functions as a coactivator for Ets-1 on the fetal liver kinase (Flk)-1 promoter in bovine carotid artery endothelial cells. Mutation of the nine phosphorylation sites for Erk in Foxo1 was shown to lead to less binding and synergistic activity for Ets-1 on the Flk-1 promoter when compared with wild-type Foxo1. These results suggest that Foxo1 is specifically phosphorylated by Erk and p38, and that this phosphorylation regulates the function of Foxo1 as a coactivator for Ets-1.

Animals↗

The LXXLL motif of murine forkhead transcription factor FoxO1 mediates Sirt1-dependent transcriptional activity.

The forkhead transcription factor FoxO1 has been identified as a negative regulator of insulin/IGF-1 signaling. Its function is inhibited by phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion through a PI3K-dependent pathway. However, the structure/function relationship of FoxO1 has not been elucidated completely. In this study, we carried out mutation analysis of the FoxO1 coactivator-interacting LXXLL motif (amino acids 459-463). Expression of a 3A/LXXAA mutant, in which 3 Akt phosphorylation sites (T24, S253, and S316) and 2 leucine residues in the LXXLL motif (L462 and L463) were replaced by alanine, decreased both Igfbp-1 and G6Pase promoter activity and endogenous Igfbp-1 and G6Pase gene expression in simian virus 40-transformed (SV40-transformed) hepatocytes. Importantly, mutagenesis of the LXXLL motif eliminated FoxO1 interaction with the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide-dependent (NAD-dependent) deacetylase sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), sustained the acetylated state of FoxO1, and made FoxO1 nicotinamide and resveratrol insensitive, supporting a role for this motif in Sirt1 binding. Furthermore, intravenous administration of adenovirus encoding 3A/LXXAA FoxO1 into Lepr db/db mice decreased fasting blood glucose levels and improved glucose tolerance and was accompanied by reduced G6Pase and Igfbp-1 gene expression and increased hepatic glycogen content. In conclusion, the LXXLL motif of FoxO1 may have an important role for its transcriptional activity and Sirt1 binding and should be a target site for regulation of gene expression of FoxO1 target genes and glucose metabolism in vivo.

1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine↗

Nutrient control of phosphorylation and translocation of Foxo1 in C57BL/6 and db/db mice.

The nutrient response mediated by feeding or fasting plays an important role in controlling gluconeogenic gene expression such as glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase) and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPCK). The FOXO family of forkhead transcription factor Foxo1 (mouse FOXO1) is a key regulator that stimulates the expression of gluconeogenic genes in the nucleus but is phosphorylated by Akt (also known as protein kinase B; PKB) and translocated to the cytoplasm in response to insulin. Although it has been widely accepted that the cellular signaling of insulin represses Foxo1 function through Akt-dependent phosphorylation, the molecular mechanism behind the modulation of Foxo1 function by nutrient responses, including feeding or fasting, remains unknown in vivo. We investigated the consequences of the nutritional changes in Akt-mediated Foxo1 phosphorylation and translocation in the liver using control C57BL/6 and diabetic db/db mice. We found that feeding promotes the phosphorylation and nuclear exclusion of Foxo1, whereas fasting counteracted them in C57BL/6 mice. Notably, db/db mice exhibited constitutive phosphorylation but dominant nuclear accumulation of Foxo1, even though CREB phosphorylation usually occurred in the fasted status. Furthermore, in contrast to C57BL/6 mice, the expression of G6Pase, PEPCK and PGC-1alpha genes during feeding was not down-regulated in db/db mice. Thus, we suggest that the accurate regulation of Foxo1 via Akt-dependent phosphorylation is required for physiological adaptation to different nutritional statuses.

Animals↗

Acetylation of Foxo1 alters its DNA-binding ability and sensitivity to phosphorylation.

The FOXO family of forkhead transcription factors plays a key role in a variety of biological processes, including metabolism, cell proliferation, and oxidative stress response. We previously reported that Foxo1, a member of the FOXO family, is regulated through reversible acetylation catalyzed by histone acetyltransferase cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP) and NAD-dependent histone deacetylase silent information regulator 2, and that the acetylation at Lys-242, Lys-245, and Lys-262 of Foxo1 attenuates its transcriptional activity. However, the molecular mechanism by which acetylation modulates Foxo1 activity remains unknown. Here, we show that the positive charge of these lysines in Foxo1 contributes to its DNA-binding, and acetylation at these residues by CBP attenuates its ability to bind cognate DNA sequence. Remarkably, we also show that acetylation of Foxo1 increases the levels of its phosphorylation at Ser-253 through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway, and this effect was overridden on the acetylation-deficient Foxo1 mutant. Furthermore, in in vitro kinase reactions, the association of wild-type Foxo1 and its target DNA sequence inhibits the protein kinase B-dependent phosphorylation of Foxo1, whereas mutated Foxo1 proteins, which mimic constitutively acetylated states, are efficiently phosphorylated even in the presence of the DNA. These results suggest that acetylation regulates the function of Foxo1 through altering the affinity with the target DNA and the sensitivity for phosphorylation.

Acetylation↗

Silent information regulator 2 potentiates Foxo1-mediated transcription through its deacetylase activity.

Longevity regulatory genes include the Forkhead transcription factor FOXO and the NAD-dependent histone deacetylase silent information regulator 2 (Sir2). Genetic studies demonstrate that Sir2 acts to extend lifespan in Caenorhabditis elegans upstream of DAF-16, a member of the FOXO family, in the insulin-like signaling pathway. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the requirement of DAF-16 activity in Sir2-mediated longevity remain unknown. Here we show that reversible acetylation of Foxo1 (also known as FKHR), the mouse DAF-16 ortholog, modulates its transactivation function. cAMP-response element-binding protein (CREB)-binding protein binds and acetylates Foxo1 at the K242, K245, and K262 residues, the modification of which is involved in the attenuation of Foxo1 as a transcription factor. Conversely, Sir2 binds and deacetylates Foxo1 at residues acetylated by cAMP-response element-binding protein-binding protein. Sir2 is recruited to insulin response sequence-containing promoter and increases the expression of manganese superoxide dismutase and p27(kip1) in a deacetylase-activity-dependent manner. Our findings establish Foxo1 as a direct and functional target for Sir2 in mammalian systems.

Acetylation↗

Bile acids regulate gluconeogenic gene expression via small heterodimer partner-mediated repression of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 and Foxo1.

Bile acid homeostasis is tightly controlled by the feedback mechanism in which an atypical orphan nuclear receptor (NR) small heterodimer partner (SHP) inactivates several NRs such as liver receptor homologue-1 and hepatocyte nuclear factor 4. Although NRs have been implicated in the transcriptional regulation of gluconeogenic genes, the effect of bile acids on gluconeogenic gene expression remained unknown. Here, we report that bile acids inhibit the expression of gluconeogenic genes, including glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, and fructose 1,6-bis phosphatase in an SHP-dependent fashion. Cholic acid diet decreased the mRNA levels of these gluconeogenic enzymes, whereas those of SHP were increased. Reporter assays demonstrated that the promoter activity of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and fructose 1,6-bis phosphatase via hepatocyte nuclear factor 4, or that of G6Pase via the forkhead transcription factor Foxo1, was down-regulated by treatment with chenodeoxicholic acid and with transfected SHP. Remarkably, Foxo1 interacted with SHP in vivo and in vitro, which led to the repression of Foxo1-mediated G6Pase transcription by competition with a coactivator cAMP response element-binding protein-binding protein. These findings reveal a novel mechanism by which bile acids regulate gluconeogenic gene expression via an SHP-dependent regulatory pathway.

Animals↗

Inhibitory effect of the small heterodimer partner on hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 mediates bile acid-induced repression of the human angiotensinogen gene.

Bile acids function as transcriptional regulators for the genes important in bile acid synthesis and cholesterol homeostasis. In this study, we identified angiotensinogen (ANG), the precursor of vasoactive octapeptide angiotensin II, as a novel target gene of bile acids. In human ANG transgenic mice, administration of cholic acid resulted in the down-regulation of human ANG gene expression in the liver. ANG gene expression in HepG2 cells was also repressed by chenodeoxycholic acid. Because the expression of small heterodimer partner (SHP) mRNA was induced by chenodeoxycholic acid in HepG2 cells, we analyzed the effects of SHP on the human ANG promoter. Promoter mutation analysis demonstrated that SHP repressed human ANG promoter activity through the element, which has been previously determined as a binding site for hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 (HNF-4). SHP repressed human ANG promoter activity only when the HNF-4 expression vector was cotransfected in HeLa cells. Furthermore, we found that SHP bound to the HNF-4 N-terminal region including the DNA-binding domain and activation function-1 and that SHP prevented HNF-4 from binding to the human ANG promoter. These results suggest that bile acids negatively regulate the human ANG gene through the inhibitory effect of SHP on HNF-4.

Angiotensinogen↗

Insulin-induced phosphorylation of FKHR (Foxo1) targets to proteasomal degradation.

Forkhead transcription factor FKHR (Foxo1) is a key regulator of glucose homeostasis, cell-cycle progression, and apoptosis. It has been shown that FKHR is phosphorylated via insulin or growth factor signaling cascades, resulting in its cytoplasmic retention and the repression of target gene expression. Here, we investigate the fate of FKHR after cells are stimulated by insulin. We show that insulin treatment decreases endogenous FKHR proteins in HepG2 cells, which is inhibited by proteasome inhibitors. FKHR is ubiquitinated in vivo and in vitro, and insulin enhances the ubiquitination in the cells. In addition, the signal to FKHR degradation from insulin is mediated by the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway, and the mutation of FKHR at the serine or threonine residues phosphorylated by protein kinase B, a downstream target of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, inhibits the ubiquitination in vivo and in vitro. Finally, efficient ubiquitination of FKHR requires both phosphorylation and cytoplasmic retention in the cells. These results demonstrate that the insulin-induced phosphorylation of FKHR leads to the multistep negative regulation, not only by the nuclear exclusion but also the ubiquitination-mediated degradation.

Cell Line↗

Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4 is a novel downstream target of insulin via FKHR as a signal-regulated transcriptional inhibitor.

Previous studies have shown that FKHR, a member of the forkhead family of transcription factors, acts as a DNA binding-independent cofactor of nuclear receptors, including estrogen, retinoid, and thyroid hormone receptors, in addition to the original function as a DNA binding transcription factor that redistributes from the nucleus to the cytoplasm by insulin-induced phosphorylation. Here, we demonstrated the physical interaction of FKHR with hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-4, a member of steroid/thyroid nuclear receptor superfamily, and the repression of HNF-4 transactivation by FKHR. FKHR interacted with the DNA binding domain of HNF-4 and inhibited HNF-4 binding to the cognate DNA. Furthermore, the binding affinity of HNF-4 with phosphorylated FKHR significantly decreased in comparison to that with unphosphorylated FKHR. Therefore, a phosphorylation of FKHR by insulin followed by its dissociation from HNF-4 and the redistribution of FKHR from the nucleus to the cytoplasm would expect to induce the transcriptional activation of HNF-4 by facilitating to the access of HNF-4 to its DNA element. Indeed, most intriguingly, insulin stimulation reversed the repression of HNF-4 transcriptional activity by phosphorylation-sensitive (wild-type) FKHR, but not by phosphorylation-deficient FKHR. These results suggest that insulin regulates the transcriptional activity of HNF-4 via FKHR as a signal-regulated transcriptional inhibitor.

Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Leucine Zipper Transcriptio↗

Regulation of PGC-1 promoter activity by protein kinase B and the forkhead transcription factor FKHR.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator-1 (PGC-1) plays a major role in mediating hepatic gluconeogenesis in response to starvation, during which PGC-1 is induced by the cyclic AMP response element binding protein. Although it is observed that insulin counteracts PGC-1 transcription, the mechanism by which insulin suppresses the transcription of PGC-1 is still unclear. Here, we show that forkhead transcription factor FKHR contributes to mediating the effects of insulin on PGC-1 promoter activity. Reporter assays demonstrate that insulin suppresses the basal PGC-1 promoter activity and that coexpression of protein kinase (PK)-B mimics the effect of insulin in HepG2 cells. Insulin response sequences (IRSs) are addressed in the PGC-1 promoter as the direct target for FKHR in vivo. Coexpression of FKHR stimulates the PGC-1 promoter activity via interaction with the IRSs, while coexpression of FKHR (3A), in which the three putative PKB sites in FKHR are mutated, mainly abolishes the suppressive effect of PKB. Whereas deletion of the IRSs prevents the promoter stimulation by FKHR, that activity is still partially inhibited by insulin. These results indicate that signaling via PKB to FKHR can partly account for the effect of insulin to regulate the PGC-1 promoter activity via the IRSs.

Androstadienes↗

Negative regulation of forkhead transcription factor AFX (Foxo4) by CBP-induced acetylation.

AFX (also called Foxo4), a member of mammalian FOXO forkhead transcription factors, is the homolog of DAF-16, which contributes longevity and oxidative stress in Caenorhabditis elegans. Here, we show that CREB-binding protein (CBP) interacts with AFX via CH1 region and acetylates it at the three lysine residues (K186, K189, and K408). Trichostatin A (TSA) repressed the AFX-stimulated transcription, and substitution of the lysine residues with arginine (K186, 189, 408R) enhanced the transcriptional activity of AFX. Furthermore, TSA suppressed the expression of p27kip1 gene induced by AFX in HEK293T cells. Compared to the coexpression of CBP wild-type, a HAT activity-deficient mutant (DeltaHAT) efficiently leads the cooperative activation of AFX transcription in HepG2 cells. Taken together, these results demonstrate that CBP-induced acetylation of AFX is a novel modification mechanism by which AFX keeps the transcriptional activity mitigating in the nucleus.

Animals↗

Regulation of alkaline phosphatase promoter activity by forkhead transcription factor FKHR.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a basic marker of osteoblast maturation and osteogenesis. However, the mechanisms of the ALP gene regulation in osteoblasts remain elusive. In this study, we examined the expression of forkhead transcription factor FKHR, a regulator of hepatic glucose metabolic and proapoptotic genes, in osteogenic cells and the effect of FKHR on transcription of the ALP gene. RT-PCR and immunoblot analyses revealed the expression of FKHR in osteogenic MC3T3-E1, SaOS2, and UMR 106 cells. Reporter assays demonstrated that the overexpression of FKHR stimulated ALP promoter activity through the forkhead response element in its promoter. These results suggest that ALP is a target gene regulated by FKHR and that FKHR contributes to osteoblast maturation and osteogenesis.

3-Phosphoinositide-Dependent Protein Kinases↗

TNFalpha induces acetylation of p53 but attenuates its transcriptional activation in rheumatoid synoviocytes.

Synovial hyperplasia is an important feature of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and we have reported that several transcription factors were highly activated in rheumatoid synoviocytes. The purpose of this study was to examine nuclear acetylation in synoviocytes as an activation marker and determine its role in cell activation. Autonomous acetylation of approximately 53 and 62 kDa nuclear proteins was detected in rheumatoid synoviocytes by anti-acetylated lysine specific antibody. Furthermore, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), a potent mitogen for synoviocytes, dose-dependently increased their state of acetylation. Immunoprecipitation analysis revealed that 53 kDa acetylated protein (ap53) was identical with p53, a tumor suppressor gene product. Since enhanced p53 binding to the promoter by TNFalpha treatment was detected by gel shift assay, we analyzed p53 promoter activity by reporter assay system. Contrary to enhanced binding activity, the transcriptional activity was attenuated in a TNFalpha concentration-dependent manner. Since p53 activation requires recruitment of CREB binding protein (CBP) as a coactivator, we also examined the effect of CBP on TNFalpha-induced attenuation of p53 promoter activation. Overexpression of CBP induced p53 transcriptional activity and recovery of TNFalpha-induced inhibition. Our results clearly indicate that autonomous nuclear acetylation is characteristically enhanced in rheumatoid synoviocytes and that p53 is one of acetylated protein. Our results also demonstrate that TNFalpha-induced acetylation of p53 attenuated its transcriptional activation via CBP depletion, and that overexpression of CBP enhanced TNFalpha-induced cell death in rheumatoid synoviocytes, suggesting that regulation of transcriptional coactivator become a novel strategy for RA therapy.

Acetylation↗

Possible role of transcriptional coactivator P/CAF and nuclear acetylation in calcium-induced keratinocyte differentiation.

Several nuclear factors, called coactivators, such as CREB (cAMP response element binding protein)-binding protein (CBP) and p300/CBP associated factor (P/CAF), have intrinsic histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity. Recent studies have shown that, in addition to histones, transcriptional regulatory molecules are also targets of HATs, and nuclear acetylation is thought to be involved in several biological events. We observed that a high concentration of calcium induced HAT activity in the keratinocyte cell line, HaCaT. The steady-state level of specific acetylated nuclear proteins changed in a dynamic fashion in HaCaT cells induced with 1.2 mm calcium. One (approximately 97-kDa acetylated protein designated as ap97) was transiently induced, one (ap78) was induced and then continuously expressed, and one (ap70) disappeared with time. Although the up-regulation of ap70 and ap78 was not influenced by GF109203X, a specific inhibitor of protein kinase C (PKC), the calcium-induced accumulation of ap97 and the induction of P/CAF HAT activity were similarly attenuated by GF109203X. Notably, mutant P/CAF lacking HAT activity repressed the expression of ap97 and involucrin, a keratinocyte differentiation marker. Our results suggest that P/CAF HAT activity and induction of ap97 are involved in calcium-dependent keratinocyte differentiation.

Acetyltransferases↗