title: Independent regulation of short and long forms of latent TGF-beta binding protein (LTBP)-4 in cultured fibroblasts and human tissues.
abstract: Transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta is secreted and targeted into the extracellular matrix (ECM) in association with one of the latent TGF-beta binding proteins (LTBPs). Activation of these latent complexes is an important regulatory step in TGF-beta signaling. LTBPs target the growth factor into the ECM and expose it to activating mechanisms. Disruption of LTBP-4 gene causes severe developmental abnormalities in both humans and mice. Transcripts for two N-terminally distinct LTBP-4 variants, LTBP-4S (short) and -4L (long), have been identified. In the current work, we have characterized differences in the expression, processing, and ECM targeting of these LTBP-4 variants. Heart and skeletal muscle displayed expression of both variants, while liver expressed mainly LTBP-4L and lung as well as small intestine LTBP-4S. This tissue-specific expression pattern was found to originate from control of transcription by two independent promoters. Furthermore, LTBP-4S and -4L proteins were secreted and processed differently. During secretion, LTBP-4L was complexed with TGF-beta1, whereas the majority of LTBP-4S was secreted in a free form. In addition, LTBP-4S was incorporated into the ECM, while full-length LTBP-4L was not readily detectable in the ECM. These data suggest that LTBP-4 functions are modified by tissue-specific expression of the two N-terminally distinct variants, which in addition exhibit significant differences in cellular processing and targeting, that is, this provides a basis for understanding molecular diversity in LTBP-4 structure and function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Virology, Haartman Institute and Helsinki University Hospital, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Anna K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kantola
authors.forename: Merja J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ryynänen
authors.forename: Filip
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Lhota
authors.forename: Jorma
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Keski-Oja
authors.forename: Katri
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D017124:Conserved Sequence; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism*; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D053779:Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011401:Promoter Regions, Genetic / Q000235:genetics; D020033:Protein Isoforms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D024363:Transcription Initiation Site
chemical_list: C509040:LTBP4 protein, human; D053779:Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins; D020033:Protein Isoforms