Regulation of telomerase activity in Jurkat T cells by transcription factors Sp1 and Sp3.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the role of transcription factors Sp1 and Sp3 in the regulation of telomerase activity and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in Jurkat T cells.


METHODS
By way of lipofectamine, Sp1 and Sp3 expression vectors were transferred into Jurkat T cells in which the protein expression levels of Sp1 and Sp3 were examined by Western blotting. Telomerase PCR-ELISA was used to assess the telomerase activity, and telomerase-mediated DNA- ladders were analyzed by silver staining and hTERT mRNA level determined by reverse transcriptase-PCR (RT-PCR).


RESULTS
Treatment of Jurkat T cells with Sp1 expression vector for 36 h resulted in significant increase in Sp1 and Sp3 protein levels by 59.6% (P<0.01) and 36.8% (P<0.05) respectively. Enhancement of Sp1 expression obviously increased telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA levels at a rate of 38.5% (P<0.05) and 25.4% (P<0.05) respectively, whereas Sp3 evinced no significant effect on both telomerase activity and hTERT mRNA levels.


CONCLUSIONS
Transcription factor Sp1, but not Sp3, regulates telomerase activity by altering hTERT mRNA levels in Jurkat T cells.
Pang
Jian-Xin
JX
Institute of Pharmaceutic Sciences, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China. pjx@fimmu.edu.cn
Chen
Xi-Yuan
XY
Wu
Shu-Guang
SG
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism*; D051705:Sp3 Transcription Factor; D019098:Telomerase / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*
D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C497121:SP3 protein, human; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051705:Sp3 Transcription Factor; D019098:Telomerase