Identification of 1 alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 response elements in the human transforming growth factor beta 2 gene.
Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is one of the most abundant growth factors secreted by bone cells, and regulation of TGF-beta expression is crucial for bone development and growth. Previous studies from our laboratory demonstrated that 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1 alpha,25(OH)2D3) inhibits human osteoblast and keratinocyte growth by increasing TGF-beta2 secretion and synthesis. To examine the mechanism by which 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 regulates TGF-beta 2 transcription in osteoblasts, we ligated segments of the human TGF-beta 2 promoter 5' of a growth hormone reporter gene in a growth hormone reporter plasmid and examined the effects of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 administration on the expression of growth hormone in cells transfected with such chimeric promoter-reporter plasmids. The promoter region extending from -973 to +68 bp of the transcription start site elicited a 7-fold increase in reporter gene activity in transiently transfected osteoblasts after 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 treatment, whereas the region from -553 to +68 bp of the transcription start site showed no response following 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3 treatment. Transfection of osteoblasts with reporter plasmids containing TGF-beta 2 promoter DNA from -869 to -658 bp revealed a 3.8-fold increase in reporter gene activity. DNA fragments from this region (-743 to -676 bp and -786 to -728 bp) ligated into reporter plasmids also showed increases in reporter activity. Gel retardation assay experiments showed that DNA fragments from -774 to -735 bp and -714 to -675 bp both formed a DNA-protein complex with bacterially expressed human retinoic acid X receptor alpha (RXR alpha) and vitamin D receptor (VDR) and with nuclear extracts from human bone cells. Addition of a vitamin D receptor antibody to reactions containing the aforesaid DNA fragments and bone cell nuclear extract resulted in further retardation of the mobility of the DNA-protein complex (super-shifting). Removal of two putative direct repeat DNA fragments in this region abolished VDR-RXR alpha-vitamin D response element complex formation. The TGF-beta 2 promoter contains two imperfect direct repeat DNA sequences: TGTAGAACAAGTAGA and AATGAAGTTGGTGGA that mediate the effect of 1 alpha,25(OH)2D3.
Wu
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Nephrology Research Unit, Mayo Clinic/Foundation, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA.
Craig
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Lutz
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Kumar
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D001483:Base Sequence; D002117:Calcitriol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D019281:Dimerization; D005333:Fetus; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010006:Osteoblasts; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012091:Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid / Q000502:physiology; D020218:Response Elements / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects; D014162:Transfection; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*
D018167:Receptors, Calcitriol; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D047488:Retinoid X Receptors; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D019382:Human Growth Hormone; D002117:Calcitriol