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Biomedical subjects

Mark W Feinberg

Publications and source records attributed to Mark W Feinberg.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

Kruppel-like factor 4 is a mediator of proinflammatory signaling in macrophages.

Activation of macrophages is important in chronic inflammatory disease states such as atherosclerosis. Proinflammatory cytokines such as interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or tumor necrosis factor-alpha can promote macrophage activation. Conversely, anti-inflammatory factors such as transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) can decrease proinflammatory activation. The molecular mediators regulating the balance of these opposing effectors remain incompletely understood. Herein, we identify Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) as being markedly induced in response to IFN-gamma, LPS, or tumor necrosis factor-alpha and decreased by TGF-beta1 in macrophages. Overexpression of KLF4 in J774a macrophages induced the macrophage activation marker inducible nitric-oxide synthase and inhibited the TGF-beta1 and Smad3 target gene plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1). Conversely, KLF4 knockdown markedly attenuated the ability of IFN-gamma, LPS, or IFN-gamma plus LPS to induce the iNOS promoter, whereas it augmented macrophage responsiveness to TGF-beta1 and Smad3 signaling. The KLF4 induction of the iNOS promoter is mediated by two KLF DNA-binding sites at -95 and -212 bp, and mutation of these sites diminished induction by IFN-gamma and LPS. We further provide evidence that KLF4 interacts with the NF-kappaB family member p65 (RelA) to cooperatively induce the iNOS promoter. In contrast, KLF4 inhibited the TGF-beta1/Smad3 induction of the PAI-1 promoter independent of KLF4 DNA binding through a novel antagonistic competition with Smad3 for the C terminus of the coactivator p300/CBP. These findings support an important role for KLF4 as a regulator of key signaling pathways that control macrophage activation.

Animals↗

KLF2 Is a novel transcriptional regulator of endothelial proinflammatory activation.

The vascular endothelium is a critical regulator of vascular function. Diverse stimuli such as proinflammatory cytokines and hemodynamic forces modulate endothelial phenotype and thereby impact on the development of vascular disease states. Therefore, identification of the regulatory factors that mediate the effects of these stimuli on endothelial function is of considerable interest. Transcriptional profiling studies identified the Kruppel-like factor (KLF)2 as being inhibited by the inflammatory cytokine interleukin-1beta and induced by laminar shear stress in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Overexpression of KLF2 in umbilical vein endothelial cells robustly induced endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression and total enzymatic activity. In addition, KLF2 overexpression potently inhibited the induction of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and endothelial adhesion molecule E-selectin in response to various proinflammatory cytokines. Consistent with these observations, in vitro flow assays demonstrate that T cell attachment and rolling are markedly attenuated in endothelial monolayers transduced with KLF2. Finally, our studies implicate recruitment by KLF2 of the transcriptional coactivator cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CBP/p300) as a unifying mechanism for these various effects. These data implicate KLF2 as a novel regulator of endothelial activation in response to proinflammatory stimuli.

Base Sequence↗

Transforming growth factor-beta1 inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell activation is mediated via Smad3.

Activation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) by proinflammatory cytokines is a key feature of atherosclerotic lesion formation. Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 is a pleiotropic growth factor that can modulate the inflammatory response in diverse cell types including VSMCs. However, the mechanisms by which TGF-beta1 is able to mediate these effects remains incompletely understood. We demonstrate here that the ability of TGF-beta1 to inhibit markers of VSMC activation, inducible nitric-oxide synthase (iNOS) and interleukin (IL)-6, is mediated through its downstream effector Smad3. In reporter gene transfection studies, we found that among a panel of Smads, Smad3 could inhibit iNOS induction in an analogous manner as exogenous TGF-beta1. Adenoviral overexpression of Smad3 potently repressed inducible expression of endogenous iNOS and IL-6. Conversely, TGF-beta1 inhibition of cytokine-mediated induction of iNOS and IL-6 expression was completely blocked in Smad3-deficient VSMCs. Previous studies demonstrate that CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) and NF-kappaB sites are critical for cytokine induction of both the iNOS and IL-6 promoters. We demonstrate that the inhibitory effect of Smad3 occurs via a novel antagonistic effect of Smad3 on C/EBP DNA-protein binding and activity. Smad3 mediates this effect in part by inhibiting C/EBP-beta and C/EBP-delta through distinct mechanisms. Furthermore, we find that Smad3 prevents the cooperative induction of the iNOS promoter by C/EBP and NF-kappaB. These data demonstrate that Smad3 plays an essential role in mediating TGF-beta1 anti-inflammatory response in VSMCs.

Animals↗

Essential role for Smad3 in regulating MCP-1 expression and vascular inflammation.

Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta(1) is a pleiotropic growth factor with known inhibitory effects on immune cell activation. However, the specific mechanism(s) and in vivo significance of the effectors of TGF-beta(1) modulation in the context of vascular inflammation are not well characterized. The chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 is critical for the recruitment of macrophages in inflammatory disease states. In this study, we provide definitive evidence that the ability of TGF-beta(1) to inhibit MCP-1 expression is mediated via its effector Smad3. Adenoviral overexpression of Smad3 potently repressed inducible expression of endogenous MCP-1. Conversely, TGF-beta(1) inhibition of cytokine-mediated induction of MCP-1 expression was completely blocked in Smad3-deficient macrophages. Consistent with this impaired response, cardiac allografts in Smad3-deficient mice developed accelerated intimal hyperplasia with increased infiltration of adventitial macrophages expressing MCP-1. Previous studies show that MCP-1 inducibility is regulated by an AP-1 complex composed of c-Jun/c-Fos heterodimers. We demonstrate that the inhibitory effect of Smad3 occurs via a novel antagonistic effect of Smad3 on AP-1 DNA-protein binding and activity. Thus, Smad3 plays an essential role in modulating vascular inflammation characteristic of transplant-associated arteriopathy, is important in regulating MCP-1 expression, and plays a critical role in the ability of TGF-beta(1) to repress stimuli from a major inflammatory signaling pathway.

Animals↗

An emerging role for Krüppel-like factors in vascular biology.

The Krüppel-like family of transcription factors play diverse roles regulating cellular differentiation and tissue development. Accumulating evidence supports an important role for these factors in vascular biology. This review examines the current knowledge of this gene family's role in key cell types that critically regulate vessel biology under physiologic and pathologic states.

DNA-Binding Proteins↗

Integrin engagement regulates monocyte differentiation through the forkhead transcription factor Foxp1.

The precise signals responsible for differentiation of blood-borne monocytes into tissue macrophages are incompletely defined. "Outside-in" signaling by integrins has been implicated in modulation of gene expression that affects cellular differentiation. Herein, using differential display PCR, we have cloned an 85-kDa forkhead transcription factor (termed Mac-1-regulated forkhead [MFH] and found subsequently to be identical to Foxp1) that is downregulated in beta(2)-integrin Mac-1-clustered compared with Mac-1-nonclustered monocytic THP-1 cells. MFH/Foxp1 is expressed in untreated HL60 cells, and its expression was markedly reduced during phorbol ester-induced monocyte differentiation, but not retinoic acid-induced granulocyte differentiation. Overexpression of MFH/Foxp1 markedly attenuated phorbol ester-induced expression of c-fms, which encodes the M-CSF receptor and is obligatory for macrophage differentiation. This was accompanied by decreased CD11b expression, cell adhesiveness, and phagocytosis. Using electromobility shift and reporter assays, we have established that MFH/Foxp1 binds to previously uncharacterized sites within the c-fms promoter and functions as a transcriptional repressor. Deficiency of Mac-1 is associated with altered regulation of MFH/Foxp1 and monocyte maturation in vivo. Taken together, these observations suggest that Mac-1 engagement orchestrates monocyte-differentiation signals by regulating the expression of the forkhead transcription repressor MFH/Foxp1. This represents a new pathway for integrin-dependent modulation of gene expression and control of cellular differentiation.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

The Krüppel-like factor KLF2 inhibits peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma expression and adipogenesis.

Obesity is an important public health problem associated with a number of disease states such as diabetes and arteriosclerosis. As such, an understanding of the mechanisms governing adipose tissue differentiation and function is of considerable importance. We recently reported that the Krüppel-like zinc finger transcription factor KLF15 can induce adipocyte maturation and GLUT4 expression. In this study, we identify that a second family member, KLF2/Lung Krüppel-like factor (LKLF), as a negative regulator of adipocyte differentiation. KLF2 is highly expressed in adipose tissue, and studies in cell lines and primary cells demonstrate that KLF2 is expressed in preadipocytes but not mature adipocytes. Constitutive overexpression of KLF2 but not KLF15 potently inhibits peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) expression with no effect on the upstream regulators C/EBPbeta and C/EBPdelta. However, the expression of C/EBPalpha and SREBP1c/ADD1 (adipocyte determination and differentiation factor-1/sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1), two factors that feedback in a positive manner to enhance PPARgamma function, was also markedly reduced. In addition, transient transfection studies show that KLF2 directly inhibits PPARgamma2 promoter activity (70% inhibition; p < 0.001). Using a combination of promoter mutational analysis and gel mobility shift assays, we have identified a binding site within the PPARgamma2 promoter, which mediates this inhibitory effect. These data identify a novel role for KLF2 as a negative regulator of adipogenesis.

Adipocytes↗

The Krüppel-like factor KLF15 regulates the insulin-sensitive glucose transporter GLUT4.

Resistance to the stimulatory effects of insulin on glucose utilization is a key feature of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and the metabolic syndrome. Recent studies suggest that insulin resistance is primarily caused by a defect in glucose transport. GLUT4 is the main insulin-responsive glucose transporter and is expressed predominantly in muscle and adipose tissues. Whereas GLUT4 has been shown to play a critical role in maintaining systemic glucose homeostasis, the mechanisms regulating its expression are incompletely understood. We have cloned the murine homologue of KLF15, a member of the Krüppel-like family of transcription factors. KLF15 is highly expressed in adipocytes and myocytes in vivo and is induced when 3T3-L1 preadipocytes are differentiated into adipocytes. Overexpression of KLF15 in adipose and muscle cell lines potently induces GLUT4 expression. This effect is specific to KLF15 as overexpression of two other Krüppel-like factors, KLF2/LKLF and KLF4/GKLF, did not induce GLUT4 expression. Both basal (3.3-fold, p < 0.001) and insulin-stimulated (2.4-fold, p < 0.00001) glucose uptake are increased in KLF15-overexpressing adipocytes. In co-transfection assays, KLF15 and MEF2A, a known activator of GLUT4, synergistically activates the GLUT4 promoter. Promoter deletion and mutational analyses provide evidence that this activity requires an intact KLF15-binding site proximal to the MEF2A site. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation assays show that KLF15 specifically interacts with MEF2A. These studies indicate that KLF15 is an important regulator of GLUT4 in both adipose and muscle tissues.

3T3 Cells↗

Macrophage-restricted and interferon gamma-inducible expression of the allograft inflammatory factor-1 gene requires Pu.1.

Expression of allograft inflammatory factor-1 (Aif-1), a 17-kDa protein bearing an EF-hand Ca(2+) binding motif, increases markedly in monocytes and macrophages participating in allo- and autoimmune reactions, including the perivascular inflammation in transplanted hearts, microglial infiltrates in experimental autoimmune neuritis, and the inflamed pancreas of prediabetic BB rats. To investigate the mechanism of this regulation, we isolated the mouse aif-1 gene and determined its genomic organization. The gene has six exons distributed over 1.6 kilobases, an interferon gamma-inducible DNase I-hypersensitive site near -900, and flanking sequences on either side predicted to associate with nuclear matrix. Reporter gene analyses identified sequences between -902 and -789, including consensus Ets and interferon regulatory factor elements, required for macrophage-specific and interferon gamma-inducible transcriptional activity. Pu.1 bound to the Ets site in electromobility shift assay and forced expression of Pu.1 activated the aif-1 promoter in 3T3 fibroblasts, in which it is normally inactive. However, the transcriptional activity of a concatamer of the Ets site alone did not increase with interferon gamma treatment. Cooperation between Pu.1 and proteins binding to the interferon regulatory factor element appears to be necessary for both macrophage-specific and interferon gamma-inducible expression of the aif-1 gene.

3T3 Cells↗