title: A possible mechanism of TPA-mediated downregulation of neurotrophin-3 gene expression in rat cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.
abstract: We have previously reported that in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), neurotrophin-3 (NT-3) gene expression was suppressed by TPA (12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate), which induces an AP-1 transcription factor. In the present study, to clarify the mechanism for TPA-mediated downregulation of NT-3 gene expression, effects of cycloheximide and dexamethasone (Dex) on the TPA-mediated downregulation were examined in VSMCs. Pretreatment with cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein synthesis, or simultaneous treatment with Dex, an inhibitor of AP-1, suppressed the TPA-mediated downregulation of NT-3 gene expression. Furthermore, co-transfection of c-fos and c-jun expression vectors into VSMCs resulted in decrease in the NT-3 gene expression. The present findings suggest that TPA-induced AP-1 de novo synthesis causes the downregulation of NT-3 gene expression in VSMCs.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003513:Cycloheximide / Q000494:pharmacology; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000494:pharmacology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology*; D005822:Genetic Vectors; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D009414:Nerve Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics*; D020933:Neurotrophin 3; D011500:Protein Synthesis Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D016760:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-fos / Q000235:genetics; D016755:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-jun / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014162:Transfection