title: C/EBP regulates hepatic transcription of 11beta -hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1. A novel mechanism for cross-talk between the C/EBP and glucocorticoid signaling pathways.
abstract: Glucocorticoid action within individual cells is potently modulated by 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD), which, by interconverting active and inert glucocorticoids, determines steroid access to receptors. Type 1 11beta-HSD (11beta-HSD1) is highly expressed in liver where it regenerates glucocorticoids, thus amplifying their action and contributing to induction of glucocorticoid-responsive genes, most of which are also regulated by members of the C/EBP (CAAT/enhancer-binding protein) family of transcription factors. Here we demonstrate that C/EBPalpha is a potent activator of the 11beta-HSD1 gene in hepatoma cells and that mice deficient in C/EBPalpha have reduced hepatic 11beta-HSD1 expression. In contrast, C/EBPbeta is a relatively weak activator of 11beta-HSD1 transcription in hepatoma cells and attenuates C/EBPalpha induction, and mice that lack C/EBPbeta have increased hepatic 11beta-HSD1 mRNA. The 11beta-HSD1 promoter (between -812 and +76) contains 10 C/EBP binding sites, and mutation of the promoter proximal sites decreases the C/EBP inducibility of the promoter. One site encompasses the transcription start, and both C/EBPalpha and C/EBPbeta are present in complexes formed by liver nuclear proteins at this site. The regulation of 11beta-HSD1 expression, and hence intracellular glucocorticoid levels, by members of the C/EBP family provides a novel mechanism for cross-talk between the C/EBP family of transcription factors and the glucocorticoid signaling pathway.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology group, University of Edinburgh, Molecular Medicine Centre, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: MacLeod
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rajan
authors.forename: G J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Darlington
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Seckl
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Chapman
mesh_terms: D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D001665:Binding Sites; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D018983:DNA Footprinting; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000378:metabolism*; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013347:Subcellular Fractions / Q000378:metabolism; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D005938:Glucocorticoids; D006913:Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases; D042842:11-beta-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenases