Cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate response element-binding protein and CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein mediate prostaglandin E2-induced steroidogenic acute regulatory protein expression in endometriotic stromal cells.
Aberrant expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein in human endometriotic stromal cells plays an important role in the development of endometriosis. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is a potent inducer of StAR expression in these cells; however, the mechanisms responsible for the transcriptional regulation of StAR remain to be elucidated. Herein we report that PGE(2)-induced StAR expression is independent of the transcriptional suppressor DAX-1 but is regulated by the transcriptional activator cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) response element-binding protein (CREB). A promoter activity assay revealed that the cis-element needed for the binding of the CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) was critical for PGE(2)-induced StAR expression. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated that this region of the StAR promoter was bound by C/EBPalpha, C/EBPbeta, and CREB. Forced expression of either C/EBPalpha or C/EBPbeta alone was sufficient to up-regulate StAR promoter activity whereas PGE(2) was needed to induce StAR promoter activity in CREB-overexpressed cells. Results from a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated that the binding of C/EBPbeta to the StAR promoter was increased whereas CREB binding was unchanged after PGE(2) treatment. Taken together, PGE(2)-induced StAR promoter activity appears to be regulated by CREB and C/EBPbeta in a cooperative manner in ectopic human endometriotic stromal cells, providing a molecular framework for the etiology of endometriosis.
Hsu
Chih-Chao
CC
Department of Physiology, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, Tainan 701, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Lu
Chun-Wun
CW
Huang
Bu-Miin
BM
Wu
Meng-Hsing
MH
Tsai
Shaw-Jenq
SJ
D001665:Binding Sites; D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein / Q000502:physiology*; D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000502:physiology*; D004715:Endometriosis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D010750:Phosphoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D012097:Repressor Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D020218:Response Elements; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein
D022762:CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Proteins; D017362:Cyclic AMP Response Element-Binding Protein; D057137:DAX-1 Orphan Nuclear Receptor; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C539965:NR0B1 protein, human; D010750:Phosphoproteins; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D012097:Repressor Proteins; D000098682:Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Protein; D015232:Dinoprostone