title: Genomic elements involved in transcriptional regulation of the rabbit surfactant protein-A gene.
abstract: Expression of the surfactant protein-A (SP-A) gene is lung specific and is developmentally and hormonally regulated in fetal lung tissue. Cyclic AMP analogs and glucocorticoids stimulate transcriptional activity of the SP-A gene in fetal rabbit lung tissue in culture; an additive effect is observed when the agents are added in combination. To analyze the genomic regions that regulate SP-A promoter activity, fusion genes comprised of -1766, -991, -378, and -47 basepairs (bp) of DNA flanking the 5'-end of the SP-A gene, the transcription initiation site, and 20 bp of exon I linked to the human GH (hGH) structural gene were subcloned into a replication-defective human adenovirus vector and transfected into differentiated rat type II cells in primary culture. SP-A promoter activity was analyzed by RIA of hGH protein in the culture medium. In type II cells transfected with SP-A-1766:hGH and SP-A-991:hGH fusion genes, hGH production was induced 30- to 40-fold by (Bu)2AMP (Bt2cAMP; 1 mM). When type II cells were transfected with the SP-A-378:hGH fusion gene, basal levels of expression were reduced by more than 50%; however, Bt2cAMP caused an 11-fold increase in hGH production. In type II cells transfected with the SP-A-47:hGH fusion gene, basal levels of hGH production were essentially undetectable, and no stimulatory effect of Bt2cAMP was apparent. Cyclic AMP stimulation of expression of the SP-A-1766:hGH, SP-A-991:hGH, and SP-A-378:hGH fusion genes was limited to type II pneumonocytes in primary culture and was absent in two lung adenocarcinoma cell lines (NCl-H358 and A549), which do not express SP-A, and in cAMP-responsive adrenal Y1 cells. Mutations of a putative cAMP-responsive element (TGACCTCA) at -261 bp revealed its functional importance in mediating cAMP regulation of SP-A gene expression. Unexpectedly, dexamethasone (Dex; 10(-7) M) antagonized the stimulatory effect of Bt2cAMP on expression of SP-A:hGH fusion genes containing from -378 to -1766 bp of 5'-flanking DNA as well as that of a fusion gene construct containing -991 bp of 5'-flanking DNA, the first exon, the first intron, and 20 bp of the second exon (SP-A-991+670:hGH). The inhibitory effect of Dex was dose dependent, with half-maximal inhibition occurring at a Dex concentration of 8 x 10(-10) M. The inhibitory effect of Dex was prevented by the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist RU486.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas 75235.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Alcorn
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Q
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: R D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Gerard
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Mendelson
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma; D000256:Adenoviridae; D000306:Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D003994:Bucladesine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000502:physiology; D003673:Defective Viruses; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D005796:Genes; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016297:Mutagenesis, Site-Directed; D009928:Organ Specificity; D011510:Proteolipids / Q000235:genetics*; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants / Q000235:genetics*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012045:Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D011510:Proteolipids; D037662:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein A; D037661:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Proteins; D011663:Pulmonary Surfactants; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D003994:Bucladesine; D003907:Dexamethasone; D013006:Growth Hormone; D000242:Cyclic AMP