title: AP2alpha is essential for MUC8 gene expression in human airway epithelial cells.
abstract: Mucins are high molecular weight proteins that make up the major components of mucus. Hypersecretion of mucus is a feature of several chronic inflammatory airway diseases. MUC8 is an important component of airway mucus, and its gene expression is upregulated in nasal polyp epithelium. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms of MUC8 gene expression. We first observed overexpression of activator protein-2 alpha (AP2 alpha) in human nasal polyp epithelium. We hypothesized that AP2 alpha overexpression in nasal polyp epithelium correlates closely with MUC8 gene expression. We demonstrated that phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) treatment of the airway epithelial cell line NCI-H292 increases MUC8 gene and AP2 alpha expression. In this study, we sought to determine which signal pathway is involved in PMA-induced MUC8 gene expression. The results show that the protein kinase C and mitogen-activating protein/ERK kinase (MAPK) pathways modulate MUC8 gene expression. PD98059 or ERK1/2 siRNA and RO-31-8220 or PKC siRNA significantly suppress AP2 alpha as well as MUC8 gene expression in PMA-treated cells. To verify the role of AP2 alpha, we specifically knocked down AP2 alpha expression with siRNA. A significant AP2 alpha knock-down inhibited PMA-induced MUC8 gene expression. While dominant negative AP2 alpha decreased PMA-induced MUC8 gene expression, overexpressing wildtype AP2 alpha increased MUC8 gene expression. Furthermore, using lentiviral vectors for RNA interference in human nasal polyp epithelial cells, we confirmed an essential role for AP2 alpha in MUC8 gene expression. From these results, we concluded that PMA induces MUC8 gene expression through a mechanism involving PKC, ERK1/2, and AP2 alpha activation in human airway epithelial cells.
authors.affiliation: The Airway Mucus Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea.
authors.forename: Uk Yeol
authors.initials: UY
authors.lastname: Moon
authors.forename: Chang-Hoon
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Jae Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Yoon-Ju
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yeon Ho
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Ho-Geun
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.forename: Hyeyoung
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joo-Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015153:Blotting, Western; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D009077:Mucins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D009298:Nasal Polyps / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D034622:RNA Interference; D020545:Respiratory Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate / Q000494:pharmacology; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: C105059:MUC8 protein, human; D009077:Mucins; D050656:Transcription Factor AP-2; C535150:MAPK1 protein, human; D019950:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1; D048052:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 3; D013755:Tetradecanoylphorbol Acetate