title: Activation of human T lymphocytes is inhibited by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists. PPARgamma co-association with transcription factor NFAT.
abstract: T lymphocyte activation is highlighted by the induction of interleukin-2 (IL-2) gene expression, which governs much of the early lymphocyte proliferation responses. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) is a member of the nuclear receptor superfamily of ligand-activated transcription factors. PPARgamma mRNA expression was found in human peripheral blood T lymphocytes, raising the possibility of PPARgamma involvement in the regulation of T cell function. Here we show that PPARgamma ligands, troglitazone and 15-deoxy-Delta(12,14) prostaglandin J(2), but not PPARalpha agonist Wy14643, inhibited IL-2 production and phytohemagglutinin-inducible proliferation in human peripheral blood T-cells in a dose-dependent manner. This inhibitory effect on IL-2 was restricted to the PPARgamma2-expressing, not the PPARgamma-lacking, subpopulation of transfected Jurkat cells. The activated PPARgamma physically associates with transcriptional factor NFAT regulating the IL-2 promoter, blocking NFAT DNA binding and transcriptional activity. This interaction with T-cell-specific transcription factors indicates an important immunomodulatory role for PPARgamma in T lymphocytes and could suggest a previously unrecognized clinical potential for PPARgamma ligands as immunotherapeutic drugs to treat T-cell-mediated diseases by targeting IL-2 gene expression.
authors.affiliation: Intramural Research Support Program, SAIC Frederick, NCI, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland 21702, USA.
authors.forename: X Y
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hodge
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Resau
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: DaSilva
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Farrar
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002460:Cell Line; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology; D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000819:agonists* / Q000378:metabolism; D000077288:Troglitazone
chemical_list: D002839:Chromans; D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D007376:Interleukin-2; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D020025:Peroxisome Proliferators; D011743:Pyrimidines; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013844:Thiazoles; D045162:Thiazolidinediones; D014157:Transcription Factors; C006253:pirinixic acid; D000077288:Troglitazone