title: C/EBPalpha is critical for the neonatal acute-phase response to inflammation.
abstract: Members of the C/EBP (CCAAT/enhancer binding protein) family of transcription factors play important roles in mediating the acute-phase response (APR), an inflammatory process resulting from infection and/or tissue damage. Among the C/EBP family of proteins, C/EBPbeta and -delta were thought to be the primary mediators of the APR. The function of C/EBPalpha in the APR has not been fully characterized to date. Here, we investigate the role of C/EBPalpha in the APR by using neonatal mice that lack C/EBPalpha expression. Northern blot analysis of acute-phase protein gene expression in neonatal mice treated with purified bacterial lipopolysaccharide or recombinant interleukin 1beta as an inflammation stimulus showed a strong APR in wild-type mice, but a response in C/EBPalpha null animals was completely lacking. The C/EBPalpha knockout and wild-type mice demonstrated elevations in C/EBPbeta and -delta mRNA expression and DNA binding as well as increased DNA binding of NF-kappaB, all of which are known to be important in the APR. Null mice, however, failed to activate STAT3 binding in response to lipopolysaccharide. Our results provide the first evidence that C/EBPalpha is absolutely required for the APR in neonatal mice, is involved in STAT3 regulation, and cannot be compensated for by other C/EBP family members.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: B L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Burgess-Beusse
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Darlington
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D000210:Acute-Phase Reaction / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005838:Genotype; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics*; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000494:pharmacology; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007375:Interleukin-1; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; C494087:Stat3 protein, mouse; D015534:Trans-Activators