A potential role for the nuclear factor of activated T cells family of transcriptional regulatory proteins in adipogenesis.
NFAT (nuclear factor of activated T cells) is a family of transcription factors implicated in the control of cytokine and early immune response gene expression. Recent studies have pointed to a role for NFAT proteins in gene regulation outside of the immune system. Herein we demonstrate that NFAT proteins are present in 3T3-L1 adipocytes and, upon fat cell differentiation, bind to and transactivate the promoter of the adipocyte-specific gene aP2. Further, fat cell differentiation is inhibited by cyclosporin A, a drug shown to prevent NFAT nuclear localization and hence function. Thus, these data suggest a role for NFAT transcription factors in the regulation of the aP2 gene and in the process of adipocyte differentiation.
Ho
I C
IC
Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard School of Public Health, 651 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
Kim
J H
JH
Rooney
J W
JW
Spiegelman
B M
BM
Glimcher
L H
LH
D016475:3T3 Cells; D017667:Adipocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D051379:Mice; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D014162:Transfection
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016572:Cyclosporine; D015500:Chloramphenicol O-Acetyltransferase