title: Activation of a rel-A/CEBP-beta-related transcription factor heteromer by PGG-glucan in a murine monocytic cell line.
abstract: PGG-Glucan is a soluble beta-glucan immunomodulator that enhances a variety of leukocyte microbicidal activities without activating inflammatory cytokines. Although several different cell surface receptors for soluble (and particulate) beta-glucans have been described, the signal transduction pathway(s) used by these soluble ligands have not been elucidated. Previously we reported that PGG-Glucan treatment of mouse BMC2.3 macrophage cells activates a nuclear factor kappa-B-like (NF-kappaB) transcription factor complex containing subunit p65 (rel-A) attached to an unidentified cohort. In this study, we identify the cohort to be a non-rel family member: a CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-beta (C/EBP-beta)-related molecule with an apparent size of 48 kDa, which is a different protein than the previously identified C/EBP-beta p34 also present in these cells. C/EBP-beta is a member of the bZIP family whose members have previously been shown to interact with rel family members. This rel/bZIP heteromer complex activated by PGG-Glucan is different from the p65/p50 rel/rel complex induced in these cells by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Thus, our data demonstrate that PGG-Glucan uses signal transduction pathways different from those used by LPS, which activates leukocyte microbicidal activities and inflammatory cytokines. We further show that heteromer activation appears to use protein kinase C (PKC) and protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) pathways, but not mitogen-activated protein kinase p38. Inhibitor kappa-B-alpha (IkappaB-alpha) is associated with the heteromer; this association decreases after PGG-Glucan treatment. These data are consistent with a model whereby treatment of BMC2.3 cells with PGG-Glucan activates IkappaB-alpha via PKC and/or PTK pathways, permitting translocation of the rel-A/CEBP-beta heteromer complex to the nucleus and increases its DNA-binding affinity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology/Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, Massachusetts 01609, USA. dadams@wpi.edu
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nathans
authors.forename: S C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Pero
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wakshull
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D015342:DNA Probes / Q000235:genetics; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D005936:Glucans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D051379:Mice; D009000:Monocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000378:metabolism; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism*; D047071:beta-Glucans
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D015342:DNA Probes; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005936:Glucans; D046911:Macromolecular Substances; D016328:NF-kappa B; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014157:Transcription Factors; D047071:beta-Glucans; C069894:poly-1-6-glucopyranosyl-1-3-glucopyranose glucan; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D011493:Protein Kinase C