title: Coordinate modulation of glucocorticoid receptor and glutaminase gene expression in LLC-PK1-F+ cells.
abstract: The effect of glucocorticoid receptor on glutaminase gene expression and related glutamine metabolism was studied in proximal tubule-like LCC-PK1-F+ cells. These cells express functional glucocorticoid receptors as demonstrated by immunoreactivity with antiglucocorticoid receptor antibody, specific ligand binding, and a 14-fold increase in chloramphenicol acetyltransferase (CAT) reporter gene activity after exposure to dexamethasone (10(-6)M). Dexamethasone exposure for 18 h increased glutaminase mRNA and activity by 32 and 42%, respectively (both P< 0.05, paired t-test), associated with a small (9%) but significant increase in glutamine utilization (P<0.05). In an effort to elicit a greater response, endogenous glucocorticoid receptors were supplemented by transfecting cells with a plasmid, pMAMGR, expressing the rat glucocorticoid receptor gene. Transfected cells expressed a 39-fold increase in CAT activity with dexamethasone treatment, confirming a higher level of functional receptors, but glutaminase mRNA and activity were now decreased by 34 and 32%, respectively, associated with a 15% fall in glutamine utilization after 18-h exposure to dexamethasone. This biphasic response in glutaminase gene expression was mirrored by glucocorticoid receptor mRNA that increased 41% after dexamethasone in LLC-PK(1)-F+ cells, but decreased 63% after transfection (both P<0.05). These findings are consonant with glucocorticoid receptor gene modulation of glutaminase gene expression and glutamine utilization.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, Louisiana State University Medical Center,Shreveport 71130, USA.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gowda
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sar
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cidlowski
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Welbourne
mesh_terms: D000409:Alanine / Q000378:metabolism; D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D005972:Glutaminase / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007700:Kinetics; D018374:LLC-PK1 Cells; D010957:Plasmids; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis; D051381:Rats; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013552:Swine; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D011965:Receptors, Glucocorticoid; D011993:Recombinant Fusion Proteins; D000641:Ammonia; D003907:Dexamethasone; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase; D005972:Glutaminase; D000409:Alanine