title: Regulation of alpha-smooth muscle actin expression in granulation tissue myofibroblasts is dependent on the intronic CArG element and the transforming growth factor-beta1 control element.
abstract: Myofibroblasts are specialized contractile fibroblasts that are critical in wound closure and tissue contracture. Generation of contractile force is correlated with the expression of alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA); however, little is known regarding molecular mechanisms that control activation of alpha-SMA in myofibroblasts in granulation tissue. The aims of the present studies were to identify sufficient promoter regions required for alpha-SMA expression in myofibroblasts in vivo and to determine whether activation of alpha-SMA expression in myofibroblasts in vivo is dependent on an intronic CArG [CC(A/T)6GG] and a transforming growth factor-beta1 control element (TCE) that are required for alpha-SMA expression in smooth muscle cells. A Lac Z transgene construct from -2600 through the first intron was expressed in myofibroblasts within granulation tissue of cutaneous wounds in a pattern that closely mimicked endogenous alpha-SMA expression. Mutation of either the intronic CArG element or the TCE completely inhibited transgene expression in myofibroblasts in granulation tissue and responsiveness to transforming growth factor-beta1 in cultured transgenic fibroblasts. These same elements were also critical in regulating alpha-SMA expression during skeletal muscle repair but not during skeletal muscle development. Taken together, these results provide the first in vivo evidence for the importance of the intronic CArG and TCE cis-elements in the regulation of alpha-SMA expression in myofibroblasts in granulation tissue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, BMSB 553, The University of Oklahoma-Health Sciences Center, 940 Stanton L. Young Blvd., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA. james-tomasek@ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: James J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Tomasek
authors.forename: Joel
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McRae
authors.forename: Gary K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Owens
authors.forename: Carol J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Haaksma
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005809:Genes, Regulator / Q000502:physiology*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D006097:Granulation Tissue / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D007438:Introns / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000378:metabolism*; D009154:Mutation / Q000502:physiology; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000378:metabolism*; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000502:physiology; D051381:Rats; D026362:Serum Response Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics*; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D026362:Serum Response Factor; C508961:Tgfb1 protein, mouse; C508962:Tgfb1 protein, rat; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1