title: Regulation of growth hormone expression by Delta-like protein 1 (Dlk1).
abstract: Delta-like protein 1 (Dlk1) is a transmembrane protein characterized by epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like repeats. Dlk1, which is also known as preadipocyte factor 1 (pref-1) because of its ability to inhibit preadipocyte differentiation, regulates the differentiation of several other cell types through unknown mechanisms. To elucidate Dlk1 functions, identification of Dlk1-regulated target genes is critical. The observation that Dlk1 is expressed in many endocrine tissues suggests that Dlk1 may have endocrine-related functions. Because Dlk1 is expressed in GH producing cells, we hypothesize that one function of Dlk1 is to regulate GH expression. We found that GH mRNA, protein, and secretion were significantly decreased in GH3 pituitary cell clones that stably express Dlk1. In contrast, Dlk1 expression was unable to alter prolactin expression. Co-transfection of GH3 cells with a GH promoter-regulated reporter gene showed that Dlk1 repressed GH promoter activity. Deletion and mutation analysis of the GH promoter indicated that Pit-1 binding sites in the GH promoter are required for Dlk1-mediated repression. Furthermore, Dlk1 expression represses Pit-1-mediated transcription when both proteins are co-expressed in MCF-7 cells. Deletion analysis of Dlk1 revealed that the ability of Dlk1 to regulate GH promoter activity is independent of both its EGF-like repeats and its ability to modulate MAP kinase activity. The observation that Dlk1 regulates GH expression identifies the first endocrine function of Dlk1, establishes GH as a Dlk1-regulated target gene, and provides a model system to facilitate studies of Dlk1-mediated signaling.
authors.affiliation: Neuroendocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Bulfinch 457B, 55 Fruit Street, Boston, MA 02114, United States.
authors.forename: Peter J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Ansell
authors.forename: Yunli
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Brit-Maren
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Schjeide
authors.forename: Alissa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kerner
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xun
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Klibanski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; D002460:Cell Line; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D013006:Growth Hormone / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D050817:Transcription Factor Pit-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D002135:Calcium-Binding Proteins; C512925:Dlk1 protein, mouse; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D050817:Transcription Factor Pit-1; D013006:Growth Hormone; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases