title: Mechanism and repertoire of ASC-mediated gene expression.
abstract: Apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC) is an adaptor molecule that mediates inflammatory and apoptotic signals. Although the role of ASC in caspase-1-mediated IL-1beta and IL-18 maturation is well known, ASC also induces NF-kappaB activation and cytokine gene expression in human cells. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism and repertoire of ASC-induced gene expression in human cells. We found that the specific activation of ASC induced AP-1 activity, which was required for optimal IL8 promoter activity. ASC activation also induced STAT3-, but not STAT1-, IFN-stimulated gene factor 3- or NF-AT-dependent reporter gene expression. The ASC-mediated AP-1 activation was NF-kappaB-independent and primarily cell-autonomous response, whereas the STAT3 activation required NF-kappaB activation and was mediated by a factor that can act in a paracrine manner. ASC-mediated AP-1 activation was inhibited by chemical or protein inhibitors for caspase-8, caspase-8-targeting small-interfering RNA, and p38 and JNK inhibitors, but not by a caspase-1 inhibitor, caspase-9 or Fas-associated death domain protein (FADD) dominant-negative mutants, FADD- or RICK-targeting small-interfering RNAs, or a MEK inhibitor, indicating that the ASC-induced AP-1 activation is mediated by caspase-8, p38, and JNK, but does not require caspase-1, caspase-9, FADD, RICK, or ERK. DNA microarray analyses identified 75 genes that were induced by ASC activation. A large proportion of them was related to transcription (23%), inflammation (21%), or cell death (16%), indicating that ASC is a potent inducer of inflammatory and cell death-related genes. This is the first report of ASC-mediated AP-1 activation and the repertoire of genes induced downstream of ASC activation.
authors.affiliation: Division of Immunology and Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Institute, Kanazawa University, Kanazawa, Ishikawa, Japan.
authors.forename: Mizuho
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hasegawa
authors.forename: Ryu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Imamura
authors.forename: Kou
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Motani
authors.forename: Takumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nishiuchi
authors.forename: Norihiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Takeshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suda
mesh_terms: D053181:Caspase 8 / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000378:metabolism; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D016209:Interleukin-8; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D018808:Transcription Factor AP-1; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D053181:Caspase 8