Complexes containing activating transcription factor (ATF)/cAMP-responsive-element-binding protein (CREB) interact with the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)-ATF composite site to regulate Gadd153 expression during the stress response. (1/701)

Gadd153, also known as chop, encodes a member of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) transcription factor family and is transcriptionally activated by cellular stress signals. We recently demonstrated that arsenite treatment of rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells results in the biphasic induction of Gadd153 mRNA expression, controlled in part through binding of C/EBPbeta and two uncharacterized protein complexes to the C/EBP-ATF (activating transcription factor) composite site in the Gadd153 promoter. In this report, we identified components of these additional complexes as two ATF/CREB (cAMP-responsive-element-binding protein) transcription factors having differential binding activities dependent upon the time of arsenite exposure. During arsenite treatment of PC12 cells, we observed enhanced binding of ATF4 to the C/EBP-ATF site at 2 h as Gadd153 mRNA levels increased, and enhanced binding of ATF3 complexes at 6 h as Gadd153 expression declined. We further demonstrated that ATF4 activates, while ATF3 represses, Gadd153 promoter activity through the C/EBP-ATF site. ATF3 also repressed ATF4-mediated transactivation and arsenite-induced activation of the Gadd153 promoter. Our results suggest that numerous members of the ATF/CREB family are involved in the cellular stress response, and that regulation of stress-induced biphasic Gadd153 expression in PC12 cells involves the ordered, sequential binding of multiple transcription factor complexes to the C/EBP-ATF composite site.  (+info)

Amino acid limitation regulates CHOP expression through a specific pathway independent of the unfolded protein response. (2/701)

The gene encoding CHOP (C/EBP-homologous protein) is transcriptionally activated by many stimuli and by amino acid deprivation. CHOP induction was considered to be due to an accumulation of unfolded protein into the ER (unfolded protein response (UPR)). We investigate the role of the UPR in the induction of CHOP by amino acid deprivation and show that this induction is not correlated with BiP expression (an UPR marker). Moreover, amino acid deprivation and UPR inducers regulate the CHOP promoter activity using distinct cis elements. We conclude that amino acid deprivation does not activate the UPR and regulates CHOP expression through a pathway that is independent of the UPR.  (+info)

Induction of a secreted protein by the myxoid liposarcoma oncogene. (3/701)

The TLS-CHOP oncoprotein, found in the majority of human myxoid liposarcomas, consists of a fusion between the transcription factor CHOP/GADD153 and the N terminus of an RNA-binding protein TLS/FUS. Clinical correlation and in vitro transformation assays indicate that the N terminus of TLS plays an important role in oncogenesis by TLS-CHOP. Until now, however, the only activity attributed to the oncoprotein is that of inhibiting the binding of transcription factors of the C/EBP class to certain adipogenic target genes, a function that TLS-CHOP shares with the nononcogenic CHOP protein. Here we report the isolation of a gene, DOL54, that is activated in primary fibroblasts by the expression of TLS-CHOP. DOL54 is expressed in the neoplastic component of human myxoid liposarcomas and increases the tumorigenicity of cells injected in nude mice. Activation of DOL54 requires an intact DNA-binding and dimerization domain in TLS-CHOP, a suitable cellular dimerization partner, and depends on the TLS N terminus. Normal adipocytic differentiation is associated with an early and transient expression of DOL54, and the gene encodes a secreted protein that is tightly associated with the cell surface or extracellular matrix. TLS-CHOP thus leads to the unscheduled expression of a gene that is normally associated with adipocytic differentiation.  (+info)

Regulated expression and functional role of the transcription factor CHOP (GADD153) in erythroid growth and differentiation. (4/701)

The hematopoietic growth factor erythropoietin (Epo) triggers changes in the expression of genes that encode important regulators of erythroid cell growth and differentiation. We now report that Epo markedly upregulates chop (gadd153) expression and that this transcription factor plays a role in erythropoiesis. Using a differential hybridization assay, we isolated a full-length cDNA of chop as an Epo upregulated gene in Rauscher murine erythroleukemia cells. RNase protection assays demonstrated that Epo or dimethyl sulfoxide induction increased steady-state mRNA levels 10- to 20-fold after 24 to 48 hours. Western blot analysis confirmed a marked increase in CHOP protein. Among the other c/ebp family members, only c/ebp beta was also upregulated during erythroid differentiation. Among normal hematopoietic cells examined, steady-state mRNA levels were highest in erythroid cells, with levels peaking during terminal differentiation. Transient overexpression of chop in Rauscher cells resulted in a significant increase in Epo- or dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-induced hemoglobinization, further linking chop upregulation to erythroid differentiation. Artificial downregulation of chop in normal murine bone marrow cells with antisense oligodeoxynucleotides inhibited colony-forming unit-erythroid (CFU-E)-derived colony growth in a concentration-dependent manner. Burst-forming unit-erythroid (BFU-E)-derived colony growth was not affected. Using a Far Western type of analysis, we detected several potential CHOP binding partners among the nuclear proteins of Rauscher cells. Importantly, the number and relative abundance of these proteins changed with differentiation. The results strongly suggest that CHOP plays a role in erythropoiesis, possibly through interactions with both C/EBP and non-C/EBP family members.  (+info)

Urea-associated oxidative stress and Gadd153/CHOP induction. (5/701)

Urea treatment (100-300 mM) increased expression of the oxidative stress-responsive transcription factor, Gadd153/CHOP, at the mRNA and protein levels (at >/=4 h) in renal medullary mIMCD3 cells in culture, whereas other solutes did not. Expression of the related protein, CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP-beta), was not affected, nor was expression of the sensor of endoplasmic reticulum stress, grp78. Urea modestly increased Gadd153 transcription by reporter gene analysis but failed to influence Gadd153 mRNA stability. Importantly, upregulation of Gadd153 mRNA and protein expression by urea was antioxidant sensitive. Accordingly, urea treatment was associated with oxidative stress, as quantitated by intracellular reduced glutathione content in mIMCD3 cells. In addition, antioxidant treatment partially inhibited the ability of urea to activate transcription of an Egr-1 luciferase reporter gene. Therefore oxidative stress represents a novel solute-signaling pathway in the kidney medulla and, potentially, in other tissues.  (+info)

Induction of gadd153 mRNA by nutrient deprivation is overcome by glutamine. (6/701)

The growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible (gadd) genes are co-ordinately activated by a variety of genotoxic agents and/or growth-cessation signals. The regulation of gadd153 mRNA was investigated in renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (LLC-PK1) cultured in a nutrient- and serum-deprived medium. The addition of glutamine alone to LLC-PK1 cells cultured in Earl's balanced salt solution (EBSS) is sufficient to suppress gadd153 mRNA expression, and the removal of only glutamine from Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) is also sufficient to induce gadd153 mRNA expression. Consistent with these findings, the inhibition of glutamine utilization with acivicin and 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON) in cells grown in a glutamine-containing medium effectively induces gadd153 expression. Glutamine can be used as an energy source in cultured mammalian cells. However, it is unlikely that deficits in cellular energy stores (ATP) are coupled to gadd153 mRNA expression, because concentrations of ATP, UTP and GTP are all elevated in EBSS-exposed cells, and the addition of alpha-oxoglutarate to cells grown in EBSS has no effect on gadd153 mRNA expression. In contrast, concentrations of CTP decline substantially in EBSS and glutamine-deprived DMEM-cultured cells. Glutamine also serves as a precursor for the synthesis of protein and DNA. The addition of glutamine to cells grown in EBSS partly restores CTP concentrations. The addition of pyrimidine ribonucleosides (cytidine and uridine) to LLC-PK1 cells also restores CTP concentrations, in a manner commensurate with their relative abilities to overcome gadd153 expression. Finally, glutamine does not completely suppress DNA damage-induced gadd153 expression, suggesting that multiple signalling pathways lead to the expression of gadd153 mRNA under conditions of nutrient deprivation and DNA damage.  (+info)

Homocysteine-induced endoplasmic reticulum stress and growth arrest leads to specific changes in gene expression in human vascular endothelial cells. (7/701)

Alterations in the cellular redox potential by homocysteine promote endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction, an early event in the progression of atherothrombotic disease. In this study, we demonstrate that homocysteine causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and growth arrest in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). To determine if these effects reflect specific changes in gene expression, cDNA microarrays were screened using radiolabeled cDNA probes generated from mRNA derived from HUVEC, cultured in the absence or presence of homocysteine. Good correlation was observed between expression profiles determined by this method and by Northern blotting. Consistent with its adverse effects on the ER, homocysteine alters the expression of genes sensitive to ER stress (ie, GADD45, GADD153, ATF-4, YY1). Several other genes observed to be differentially expressed by homocysteine are known to mediate cell growth and differentiation (ie, GADD45, GADD153, Id-1, cyclin D1, FRA-2), a finding that supports the observation that homocysteine causes a dose-dependent decrease in DNA synthesis in HUVEC. Additional gene profiles also show that homocysteine decreases cellular antioxidant potential (glutathione peroxidase, NKEF-B PAG, superoxide dismutase, clusterin), which could potentially enhance the cytotoxic effects of agents or conditions known to cause oxidative damage. These results successfully demonstrate the use of cDNA microarrays in identifying homocysteine-respondent genes and indicate that homocysteine-induced ER stress and growth arrest reflect specific changes in gene expression in human vascular EC.  (+info)

Quantitation of the change in GADD153 messenger RNA level as a molecular marker of tumor response in head and neck cancer. (8/701)

Cells injured by exposure to cisplatin (cDDP) undergo a cellular injury response that shares characteristics with responses produced by many other injurious agents. We sought to determine whether the increase of the message of the "growth arrest and DNA damage-inducible" gene, GADD153, could be used to assess the extent of the cellular injury response in model systems and in patients with head and neck cancer after treatment with cDDP. The mRNA levels of GADD153, a gene highly transcriptionally activated by cDDP damage, were increased in a transient, concentration-dependent manner by cDDP when human UMSCC10b head and neck carcinoma cells were treated with cDDP both in vitro and when grown as tumor xenografts in nude mice. There was a good correlation between the change in level of GADD153 mRNA and UMSCC10b cell kill by cDDP in vitro (r = 0.98). The magnitude of the increase was proportionally reduced in UMSCC10b sublines that were 3- or 6-fold resistant to cDDP. GADD153 mRNA levels were measured in biopsies obtained before and 24 h after treatment with cDDP from 32 patients with stage III/IV head and neck cancer. There was a relationship between the increase in GADD153 mRNA levels and the response rate. Seven of the 32 patients had no response and no increase in GADD153 mRNA level. Among the eight patients who attained a partial response, the increase in GADD153 message ranged from 0.7-2.5-fold. In contrast, 17 of 32 patients had a complete response, and this was accompanied by a 2-9-fold induction of GADD153. The mean increase in the complete responders (3.8+/-2.2-fold) differed significantly from that for the partial responders (1.6+/-0.9) and nonresponders (0.8+/-0.5; P <0.05); the difference between the partial responders and nonresponders was also significant (P <0.05). An increase of GADD153 mRNA of 1.75-fold or higher predicted a complete response, with a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 87%. We conclude that the magnitude of the increase in GADD153 mRNA is a promising candidate for service as an intermediate marker of head and neck tumor response to cDDP. The fact that the change in GADD153 mRNA reflects the actual extent of injury sustained by the tumor makes it particularly attractive as a potential marker. One strength of this approach is that it can provide a measure of the effectiveness of therapy as early as 24-48 h after the first dose of treatment.  (+info)