title: Regulation of C4b-binding protein gene expression by the acute-phase mediators tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, and interleukin-1.
abstract: C4b-binding protein (C4BP) is involved in the fluid-phase regulation of the classical pathway of complement. During an acute-phase response, we have shown that hepatic levels of murine C4BP mRNA are elevated 2.5-fold while rat liver C4BP gene expression exhibits a 4-fold induction. Furthermore, a survey of different mouse tissues showed that during acute inflammation C4BP gene expression was confined to the liver. To gain a better understanding of the acute-phase regulation of C4BP gene expression we utilized the rat hepatoma cell line FAO in which tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) produced a 2.7-fold induction of C4BP mRNA levels. In the absence of TNF-alpha, interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) had little effect on C4BP gene expression but when all three cytokines were used together a synergistic 4-fold induction of C4BP mRNA levels was observed. In contrast the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone inhibited TNF-alpha-induced C4BP gene expression. Cycloheximide-mediated inhibition of inducible C4BP gene expression demonstrated the requirement for ongoing protein synthesis. Rapid induction of C4BP mRNA levels by TNF-alpha and IL-6 (within 1 h) and the observation that stimulation was inhibited by actinomycin D provided evidence that regulation of C4BP gene expression during the acute-phase response is regulated at the transcriptional level. Isolation of a genomic clone extending into the 5' regulatory region of the rat C4BP gene enabled us to identify the major transcriptional start site and putative response elements through which TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-1 alpha, and dexamethasone may exert their effects on C4BP gene expression.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Immunology, Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California 92037.
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Moffat
authors.forename: B F
authors.initials: BF
authors.lastname: Tack
mesh_terms: D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002352:Carrier Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000502:physiology*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D002352:Carrier Proteins; D003169:Complement Inactivator Proteins; D006023:Glycoproteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D003513:Cycloheximide