title: Interleukin-6-specific activation of the C/EBPdelta gene in hepatocytes is mediated by Stat3 and Sp1.
abstract: C/EBPdelta (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein delta) has been implicated as a regulator of acute-phase response (APR) genes in hepatocytes. Its expression increases dramatically in liver during the APR and can be induced in hepatic cell lines by interleukin-6 (IL-6), an acute-phase mediator that activates transcription of many APR genes. Here we have investigated the mechanism by which C/EBPdelta expression is regulated by IL-6 in hepatoma cells. C/EBPdelta promoter sequences to -125 bp are sufficient for IL-6 inducibility of a reporter gene and include an APR element (APRE) that is essential for IL-6 responsiveness. DNA binding experiments and transactivation assays demonstrate that Stat3, but not Stat1, interacts with this APRE. Two Sp1 sites, one of which is adjacent to the APRE, are required for IL-6 induction and transactivation by Stat3. Thus, Stat3 and Sp1 function cooperatively to activate the C/EBPdelta promoter. Replacement of the APRE with Stat binding elements (SBEs) from the ICAM-1 or C/EBPbeta promoter, both of which recognize both Stat1 and Stat3, confers responsiveness to gamma interferon, a cytokine that selectively activates Stat1. Sequence comparisons suggest that the distinct Stat binding specificities of the C/EBPdelta and C/EBPbeta SBEs are determined primarily by a single base pair difference. Our findings indicate that the cytokine specificity of C/EBPdelta gene expression is governed by the APRE sequence.
authors.affiliation: Eukaryotic Transcriptional Regulation Group, ABL-Basic Research Program, NCI-Frederick Cancer Research and Development Center, Maryland 21702-1201, USA.
authors.forename: C A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Cantwell
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sterneck
authors.forename: P F
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000235:genetics; D001483:Base Sequence; D051743:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000502:physiology*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism*; D014157:Transcription Factors; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; C497252:CEBPD protein, human; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D015850:Interleukin-6; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494086:STAT3 protein, human; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051743:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-delta