title: Nuclear factor of activated T cells regulates transcription of the surfactant protein D gene (Sftpd) via direct interaction with thyroid transcription factor-1 in lung epithelial cells.
abstract: Surfactant protein D (SP-D) plays critical roles in host defense, surfactant homeostasis, and pulmonary immunomodulation. Here, we identify a role of nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFATs) in regulation of murine SP-D gene (Sftpd) transcription. An NFAT-dependent enhancer modulated by NFATs or calcineurin and sensitive to cyclosporin was identified in the Sftpd promoter. Ionomycin and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate further increased the activity of this enhancer, whereas VIVIT, a potent NFAT inhibitor peptide, selectively interfered with the calcineurin-NFAT interaction and abolished enhancer function. Gel supershift and DNase I protection assays identified DNA elements that bind NFAT in the Sftpd promoter. Calcineurin and NFATc3 proteins were detected in the embryonic and adult mouse lung epithelium, and the mRNA expression profiles of the NFATs were similar in immortalized mouse lung epithelial cells and alveolar epithelial type II cells. NFATc3 and TTF-1 activated the Sftpd promoter, synergized transcription, co-immunoprecipitated from mouse lung epithelial cells, and physically interacted in vitro. Components of the calcineurin/NFAT pathway were identified in respiratory epithelial cells of the lung that potentially augment rapid assembly of a multiprotein transcription complex on Sftpd promoter inducing SP-D expression.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45229-3039, USA. davev0@cchmc.org
authors.forename: Vrushank
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Davé
authors.forename: Tawanna
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Childs
authors.forename: Jeffrey A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Whitsett
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D019703:Calcineurin / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000378:metabolism; D004247:DNA / Q000378:metabolism; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004848:Epithelium / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000378:metabolism; D006367:HeLa Cells; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D015759:Ionomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008156:Luciferases / Q000378:metabolism; D008168:Lung / Q000166:cytology* / Q000196:embryology / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008957:Models, Genetic; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D016296:Mutagenesis; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D010957:Plasmids / Q000378:metabolism; D011233:Precipitin Tests; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011485:Protein Binding; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism*; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D050778:NFATC Transcription Factors; C494008:NFATC3 protein, human; C000614412:NKX2-1 protein, human; C494009:Nfatc3 protein, mouse; C000614414:Nkx2-1 protein, mouse; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D037663:Pulmonary Surfactant-Associated Protein D; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D000074482:Thyroid Nuclear Factor 1; D014157:Transcription Factors; C445503:transcription factor NF-AT c3; D015759:Ionomycin; D016572:Cyclosporine; D004247:DNA; D008156:Luciferases; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I; D019703:Calcineurin; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate