title: Induction of the apolipoprotein AI promoter by Sp1 is repressed by saturated fatty acids.
abstract: Insulin induces transcription of the hepatic apolipoprotein AI (apo AI) gene by increasing Sp1 binding to the promoter. To determine the effect of fatty acids on this process, HepG2 cells cotransfected with the plasmid pAI.474.CAT containing the full-length apo AI promoter and the Sp1-expressing plasmid, pCMV-Sp1, were studied. Chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) activity (% acetylation) increased 1.98-fold in cells receiving the Sp1 expression construct relative to control cells (46.4% +/- 0.6% v 23.4% +/- 1.3%, P < .05). Treatment of cells with 3 saturated fatty acids, stearic, myristic, and palmitic acid, repressed the ability of exogenous Sp1 to induce apo AI reporter gene expression (15.2% +/- 1.7%, 22.5% +/- 0.3%, 22.9% +/- 0.1%, 23.5% +/- 0.8%, respectively, P < .05). Unsaturated fatty acids, oleic, linoleic, or linolenic acid had no effect on Sp1-mediated induction of the apo AI promoter. In the presence of the trans fatty acids, CAT activity in the Sp1-transfected cells was similar to control cells (16.7% +/- 3.3%, 19.3% +/- 0.5%, and 21.0% +/- 2.1% acetylation in cells exposed to elaidic acid, linolelaidic, or linolenelaidic acid, respectively). In cells treated with an equimolar mixture of oleic acid and stearic acid, apo AI promoter activity was suppressed in a manner similar to that observed in stearic acid-treated cells. Insulin (100 microU/mL) induced apo AI promoter activity 2.9-fold (22.4% +/- 1.7% v 7.8% +/- 2.4%, P < .05). However, in the presence of stearic acid, insulin was unable to induce apo AI promoter (6.3% +/- 1.6%). Stearic acid treatment did not alter Sp1-DNA binding as measured by gel shift analysis. Therefore, saturated fatty acids blunt Sp1 induction of apo AI promoter probably at a step beyond DNA binding.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, St Louis University School of Medicine, MO, USA.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Haas
authors.forename: Mohamad H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Horani
authors.forename: Norman C W
authors.initials: NC
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Arshag D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Mooradian
mesh_terms: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000378:metabolism; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism; D024202:Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D006801:Humans; D019301:Oleic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D010957:Plasmids / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics*; D013229:Stearic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D016632:Apolipoprotein A-I; D005227:Fatty Acids; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D016329:Sp1 Transcription Factor; D013229:Stearic Acids; D019301:Oleic Acid; C031183:stearic acid