title: Expression of bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein requires C/EBP epsilon.
abstract: Bactericidal/permeability-increasing protein (BPI) is a 55-kd cationic protein found mainly in neutrophil primary granules. BPI shows cytotoxicity against Gram-negative bacteria. In this study, we studied the role of a myeloid-specific transcription factor, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein epsilon (C/EBP epsilon), in the regulation of BPI gene expression. A patient with neutrophil-specific granule deficiency with a homozygous inactivating mutation in the CEBP epsilon gene showed severely impaired expression of both BPI messenger RNA (mRNA) and BPI protein. Both U937 and NB4 cells treated with 10-7 M all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) for 6 days displayed increased levels of BPI protein and accompanying up-regulated C/EBP epsilon expression. Chromatin-immunoprecipitation analysis and electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed binding of the C/EBP epsilon protein to the C/EBP-binding site in the BPI gene promoter. U937 cells stably transfected with a zinc-inducible C/EBP epsilon expression vector showed a 30-fold increase in BPI mRNA levels compared with cells transfected with control empty vector after culturing for 48 hours with 100 microM ZnSO4. BPI mRNA expression was severely reduced in the bone marrow of C/EBP epsilon-deficient mice compared with wild-type mice. Expression of BPI in human cord blood cells was increased by incubation with 10-7 MATRA for 48 hours. These results demonstrate the requirement for C/EBP epsilon in mediating BPI gene expression in myeloid cells in vitro and in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Shinshu University School of Medicine, Matsumoto, Japan.
authors.forename: Miyuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Adrian F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: Gombart
authors.forename: H Phillip
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Koeffler
authors.forename: Masaaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shiohara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001798:Blood Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000172:deficiency / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics; D030342:Genetic Diseases, Inborn / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D016254:Mutagenesis, Insertional; D009154:Mutation; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000378:metabolism*; D011485:Protein Binding / Q000235:genetics; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D020218:Response Elements; D022142:Secretory Vesicles / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020298:U937 Cells
chemical_list: D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D001798:Blood Proteins; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; C489468:Cebpe protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; C021623:bactericidal permeability increasing protein; C070790:CEBPE protein, human