title: Transcriptional control of Flt3 ligand targeted by fluorouracil-induced Egr-1 promoter in hematopoietic damage.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ionizing radiation (IR) activate the early growth response-1 (Egr-1) promoter by production of radical oxygen intermediates (ROIs). Egr-EF, an expression vector pCIneo containing Egr-1 promoter cloned upstream of the cDNA for Flt3 ligand, was used to treat hematopoietic damage. 5-fluorouracil, a commonly used chemotherapeutic agent, cause tumor cell death by producing DNA damage and generating ROIs. We therefore hypothesized that clinically employed chemotherapeutic agents that increase ROIs could also be employed to activate Egr-EF in a chemoinducible gene therapy strategy. The goal of this study was to explore the effect of Flt3 Ligand gene transcription regulated by fluorouracil-induced Egr-1 promoter on hematopoietic recovery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human Flt3 Ligand (FL) cDNA and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) cDNA were linked together with IRES and inserted into the expression vector pCI-neo under control of the Egr-1 promoter (Egr-EF). The vector was transfected into the HFCL human bone marrow stromal cell line, and these cells were exposed to 5-FU, a chemotherapeutic drug. Expression of FL by HFCL/EF cells after 5-FU treatment was determined with ELISA, western blot and RT-PCR assays. In addition, the effect of FL from HFCL/EF cell culture supernatants on growth of CD34+ cells from cord blood was also studied. HFCL/EF cells were injected into CB-17 combined immunodeficient (SCID) mice with B16 melanoma. 5-FU was given three days after injection of the HFCL/EF cells. In the recipient mice, white blood cell levels in peripheral blood and expression of EGFP and FL in human stromal cells were measured. Tumor volumes in tumor-bearing mice were also measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  5-FU treatment increased EGFP levels and secreted FL levels in HFCL/EF cells. Supernatants from HFCL/EF cell cultures treated with 5-FU increased CD34+ cell growth significantly. HFCL/EF exhibited an increase in the number of white blood cells after chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data presented here support the use of transcriptional control mediated by chemoinducible gene therapy to reduce hematopoietic injury associated with 5-FU.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology First Affiliated hospital, Chinese PLA Postgraduate Medical School, Beijing 100037, China. dunan05@yahoo.com.cn
authors.forename: Nan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Xuetao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Pei
authors.forename: Jinming
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.forename: Xiaosong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.forename: Yixin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018952:Antigens, CD34 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000963:Antimetabolites / Q000494:pharmacology; D004249:DNA Damage; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006413:Hematopoietic System; D006801:Humans; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D016513:Mice, SCID; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic; D011839:Radiation, Ionizing; D014158:Transcription, Genetic
chemical_list: D018952:Antigens, CD34; D000963:Antimetabolites; C497325:EGR1 protein, human; D051766:Early Growth Response Protein 1; C486109:Egr1 protein, mouse; D008565:Membrane Proteins; C084881:flt3 ligand protein; D005472:Fluorouracil