title: Upstream stimulatory factor (USF) proteins induce human TGF-beta1 gene activation via the glucose-response element-1013/-1002 in mesangial cells: up-regulation of USF activity by the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway.
abstract: The hyperglycemia-enhanced flux through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) has been implicated in the up-regulated gene expression of transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) in mesangial cells, thus leading to mesangial matrix expansion and diabetic glomerulosclerosis. Since the -1013 to -1002 region of the TGF-beta1 promoter shows high homology to glucose-response elements (GlRE) formerly described in genes involved in glucose metabolism, we studied the function of the GlRE in the high glucose-induced TGF-beta1 gene activation in mesangial cells. We found that high glucose concentrations enhanced the nuclear amount of upstream stimulatory factors (USF) and their binding to this sequence. Fusion of the GlRE to the thymidine kinase promoter resulted in glucose responsiveness of this promoter construct. Overexpression of either USF-1 or USF-2 increased TGF-beta1 promoter activity 2-fold, which was prevented by mutation or deletion of the GlRE. The high glucose-induced activation of the GlRE is mediated by the HBP; increased flux through the HBP induced by high glucose concentrations, by glutamine, or by overexpression of the rate-limiting enzyme glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (GFAT) particularly activated USF-2 expression. GFAT-overexpressing cells showed higher USF binding activity to the GlRE and enhanced promoter activation via the GlRE. Increasing O-GlcNAc modification of proteins by streptozotocin, thereby mimicking HBP activation, also resulted in increased mRNA and nuclear protein levels of USF-2, leading to enhanced DNA binding activity to the GlRE. USF proteins themselves were not found to be O-GlcNAc-modified. Thus, we have provided evidence for a new molecular mechanism linking high glucose-enhanced HBP activity with increased nuclear USF protein levels and DNA binding activity and with up-regulated TGF-beta1 promoter activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Pathobiochemistry, University of Tübingen, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Cora
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Weigert
authors.forename: Katrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brodbeck
authors.forename: Michèle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sawadogo
authors.forename: Hans U
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Häring
authors.forename: Erwin D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Schleicher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005920:Glomerular Mesangium / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006595:Hexosamines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D006595:Hexosamines; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; C497181:USF1 protein, human; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors; C497183:Usf1 protein, mouse; D005947:Glucose