title: Molecular cloning and characterization of mouse LITAF cDNA: role in the regulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) gene expression.
abstract: The inflammatory response to bacteria and bacterial products, such as lipopolysaccharides (LPSs), is mediated by a variety of secreted factors, but cytotoxic effects of LPS have been ascribed to the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) activity. TNF-alpha is probably the most pleiotropic cytokine and, given the deleterious effects to the host of this factor, it has been postulated that its expression must be tightly regulated. Our laboratory has recently isolated, cloned and characterized a novel human transcription factor named LITAF or LPS-induced TNF-alpha factor. The present study reports the isolation, cloning and characterization of the mouse LITAF cDNA. Chromosomal localization revealed that mouse LITAF mapped to mouse chromosome 16, in a region highly homologous with the area on which human LITAF was previously located. Northern blot analysis shows that mouse LITAF is already expressed at embryonic day 7 of development, and is highly expressed in adult liver, heart and kidney. Moreover, upon LPS stimulation, we show that: (i) LITAF expression is increased in a mouse monocyte/macrophage cell line; and (ii) TNF-alpha expression is reduced in ES cell-derived macrophages lacking one copy of LITAF gene. Taken together, these results highlight the important role of LITAF in the regulation of TNF-alpha gene expression and suggest a potential role of LITAF in mouse organogenesis.
authors.affiliation: Center for the Advanced Biomedical Research, Boston University, Massachusetts 02118, USA.
authors.forename: Anne-Laure
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bolcato-Bellemin
authors.forename: Marie-Genevieve
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fenton
authors.forename: Salomon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Amar
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015152:Blotting, Northern; D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D007249:Inflammation; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000633:toxicity*; D008264:Macrophages; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D018076:DNA, Complementary; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; C492727:Litaf protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha