title: Transcriptional activation of gene expression by pluronic block copolymers in stably and transiently transfected cells.
abstract: Amphiphilic block copolymers of poly(ethylene oxide) and poly(propylene oxide) (Pluronics) enhance gene expression, but the mechanism remains unclear. We examined the effects of Pluronics on gene expression in murine cell models (NIH3T3 fibroblasts, C2C12 myoblasts, and Cl66 mammary adenocarcinoma cells) transfected with luciferase and green fluorescent protein. Addition of Pluronics to stably or transiently transfected cells enhanced transcription of the reporter genes. mRNA levels of the heat-shock protein hsp68 were also increased, whereas a housekeeping gene, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase, was unaffected. Fibroblast and myoblast cells transfected with PathDetect cis-Reporting System constructs were used to examine the involvement of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activating protein-1 (AP-1) in Pluronics enhancement. Pluronics enhanced reporter gene expression controlled by NF-kappaB in both cell models. They also increased expression of a gene under AP-1 in a fibroblast cell line, but not in a myoblast cell line. Activation of the inflammation signaling pathway in myoblast cells by Pluronics was shown by increased IkappaB phosphorylation. No cytotoxicity was observed at doses of Pluronics at which gene expression was increased. Overall, these results indicate that Pluronics can increase the transcription of genes, in part, through the activation of selected stress signaling pathways.
authors.affiliation: Center for Drug Delivery and Nanomedicine and Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Nebraska Medical Center, 985830 Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198-5830, USA.
authors.forename: Srikanth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sriadibhatla
authors.forename: Zhihui
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gebhart
authors.forename: Valery Yu
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Alakhov
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kabanov
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D017930:Genes, Reporter; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D008156:Luciferases / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000473:pathology; D020714:Maximum Tolerated Dose; D051379:Mice; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D032446:Myoblasts / Q000187:drug effects; D041681:NIH 3T3 Cells; D011060:Poloxalene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014158:Transcription, Genetic; D015533:Transcriptional Activation; D014162:Transfection
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; C422648:pluronic block copolymer p85; D049452:Green Fluorescent Proteins; D011060:Poloxalene; D008156:Luciferases