Transcription Factor Nuclear Factor (transcription + factor_nuclear_factor)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


A preliminary examination of the role of NFAT 3 in human skin, cultured keratocytes and dermal fibroblasts

JOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 9 2010
Wael I. Al-Daraji
Background: Ciclosporin A (CsA) is widely utilized for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases such as psoriasis. The therapeutic effects of CsA are thought to be mediated via its immunosuppressive action on infiltrating lymphocytes in skin lesions. CsA and tacrolimus block T cell activation by inhibiting the phosphatase calcineurin and preventing translocation from the cytoplasm to the nucleus of the transcription factor Nuclear Factor of Activated T cells (NFAT). Methods: RT-PCR and Western Analysis were used to investigate the presence of NFAT-3 mRNA and protein in human keratocytes. Tissue culture of human keratocytes and immunostaining of cells on coverslips and confocal microscopy were used to assess the degree of nuclear localisation of NFAT-3 in cultured cells. Keratome biopsies were taken from patients with psoriasis (lesional and non-lesional skin) and normal skin and immunohistochemistry was used to assess the NFAT-3 localisation in these biopsies using a well characterized anti-NFAT-3 antibody. Results: The NFAT-3 mRNA and protein expression was demonstrated using RT-PCR and Western blotting. The expression of NFAT-3 in human keratocytes and response to different agonists provides perhaps a unique opportunity to examine the regulation, subcellular localization and kinetics of translocation of different NFATs in primary cultured human cells. As with NFAT 1, NFAT 2 and recently NFAT 5, differentiation-promoting agents that increase intracellular calcium concentration induced nuclear translocation of NFAT-3 in cultured keratocytes but with different kinetics. Conclusion: These data provide the first evidence of that NFAT-3 is expressed in normal skin, psoriasis and that NFAT-3 functionally active in human keratocytes and that nuclear translocation of NFAT-3 in human skin cells has different kinetics than NFAT 1 suggesting that NFAT-3 may play an important role in regulation of keratocytes proliferation and differentiation at a different stage. Inhibition of this pathway in human epidermal keratocytes many account, in part for the therapeutic effects of CsA and tacrolimus in skin disorders such as psoriasis. Al-Daraji WI. A preliminary examination of the role of NFAT 3 in human skin, cultured keratocytes and dermal fibroblasts. [source]


Reactive oxygen species are signalling molecules for skeletal muscle adaptation

EXPERIMENTAL PHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Scott K. Powers
Increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is crucial to the remodelling that occurs in skeletal muscle in response to both exercise training and prolonged periods of disuse. This review discusses the redox-sensitive signalling pathways that are responsible for this ROS-induced skeletal muscle adaptation. We begin with a discussion of the sites of ROS production in skeletal muscle fibres. This is followed by an overview of the putative redox-sensitive signalling pathways that promote skeletal muscle adaptation. Specifically, this discussion highlights redox-sensitive kinases, phosphatases and the transcription factor nuclear factor-,B. We also discuss the evidence that connects redox signalling to skeletal muscle adaptation in response to increased muscular activity (i.e. exercise training) and during prolonged periods of muscular inactivity (i.e. immobilization). In an effort to stimulate further research, we conclude with a discussion of unanswered questions about redox signalling in skeletal muscle. [source]


Efficient killing of SW480 colon carcinoma cells by a signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 hairpin decoy oligodeoxynucleotide , interference with interferon-,-STAT1-mediated killing

FEBS JOURNAL, Issue 9 2009
Ali Tadlaoui Hbibi
The signal transducers and activators of transcription (STATs) convey signals from the membrane to the nucleus in response to cytokines or growth factors. STAT3 is activated in response to cytokines involved mostly in cell proliferation; STAT1 is activated by cytokines, including interferon-,, involved in defence against pathogens and the inhibition of cell proliferation. STAT3, which is frequently activated in tumour cells, is a valuable target with respect to achieving inhibition of tumour cell proliferation. Indeed, its inhibition results in cell death. We previously observed that inhibition of the transcription factor nuclear factor-,B, a key regulator of cell proliferation, with decoy oligodeoxynucleotides results in cell death. We used a similar approach for STAT3. A hairpin STAT3 oligodeoxynucleotide was added to a colon carcinoma cell line in which it induced cell death as efficiently as the STAT3 inhibitor stattic. The hairpin STAT3 oligodeoxynucleotide co-localized with STAT3 within the cytoplasm, prevented STAT3 localization to the nucleus, blocked a cyclin D1 reporter promoter and associated with STAT3 in pull-down assays. However, the same cells were efficiently killed by interferon-,. This effect was counteracted by the STAT3 oligodeoxynucleotide, which was found to efficiently inhibit STAT1. Thus, although it can inhibit STAT3, the hairpin STAT3 oligodeoxynucleotide appears also to inhibit STAT1-mediated interferon-, cell killing, highlighting the need to optimize STAT3-targeting oligodeoxynucleotides. [source]


Roles of nuclear factor-,B in postischemic liver

HEPATOLOGY RESEARCH, Issue 5 2008
Thomas Shin
Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) results in a chain of events that culminate in liver dysfunction and injury. I/R injury is characterized by early oxidant stress followed by an intense acute inflammatory response that involves the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-,B. In addition to being a primary regulator of pro-inflammatory gene expression, NF-,B may play other roles in the hepatic response to I/R, such as mediating the expression of anti-apoptotic genes, preventing the accumulation of damaging reactive oxygen species, facilitating liver regeneration, and mediating the protective effects of ischemic preconditioning. In the present study, we review the diverse functions of NF-,B during hepatic I/R injury. [source]


CARMA1-mediated NF-,B and JNK activation in lymphocytes

IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2009
Marzenna Blonska
Summary:, Activation of transcription factor nuclear factor-,B (NF-,B) and Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) play the pivotal roles in regulation of lymphocyte activation and proliferation. Deregulation of these signaling pathways leads to inappropriate immune response and contributes to the development of leukemia/lymphoma. The scaffold protein CARMA1 [caspase-recruitment domain (CARD) membrane-associated guanylate kinase (MAGUK) protein 1] has a central role in regulation of NF-,B and the JNK2/c-Jun complex in both B and T lymphocytes. During last several years, tremendous work has been done to reveal the mechanism by which CARMA1 and its signaling partners, B cell CLL-lymphoma 10 and mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue 1, are activated and mediate NF-,B and JNK activation. In this review, we summarize our findings in revealing the roles of CARMA1 in the NF-,B and JNK signaling pathways in the context of recent advances in this field. [source]


Circuitry of nuclear factor ,B signaling

IMMUNOLOGICAL REVIEWS, Issue 1 2006
Alexander Hoffmann
Summary:, Over the past few years, the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-,B and the proteins that regulate it have emerged as a signaling system of pre-eminent importance in human physiology and in an increasing number of pathologies. While NF-,B is present in all differentiated cell types, its discovery and early characterization were rooted in understanding B-cell biology. Significant research efforts over two decades have yielded a large body of literature devoted to understanding NF-,B's functioning in the immune system. NF-,B has been found to play roles in many different compartments of the immune system during differentiation of immune cells and development of lymphoid organs and during immune activation. NF-,B is the nuclear effector of signaling pathways emanating from many receptors, including those of the inflammatory tumor necrosis factor and Toll-like receptor superfamilies. With this review, we hope to provide historical context and summarize the diverse physiological functions of NF-,B in the immune system before focusing on recent advances in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that mediate cell type-specific and stimulus-specific functions of this pleiotropic signaling system. Understanding the genetic regulatory circuitry of NF-,B functionalities involves system-wide measurements, biophysical studies, and computational modeling. [source]


Nuclear factor-,B contributes to interleukin-4- and interferon-dependent polymeric immunoglobulin receptor expression in human intestinal epithelial cells

IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2004
Laynez W. Ackermann
Summary Polymeric immunoglobulins (pIgs) that are present at mucosal surfaces play key roles in both the innate and adaptive immune responses. These pIgs are delivered to the mucosal surface via transcytosis across the epithelium, a process mediated by the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (pIgR). Previous studies demonstrate that expression of the pIgR is regulated by multiple immunomodulatory factors including interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interferon-, (IFN-,). In studies using human intestinal epithelial cells (HT29), multiple inhibitors of the transcription factor nuclear factor-,B (NF-,B), including a dominant negative I,B,-serine mutant, inhibited both IL-4- and IFN-dependent increases in pIgR expression. Under identical conditions, NF-,B inhibitors had no effect on cytokine-dependent increases in expression of the transcription factor interferon regulatory factor-1. Over-expression of the I,B,-serine mutant also inhibited reporter gene expression in response to IL-4, TNF-,, IL-1,, and in some cases IFN-, using constructs with sequences from the pIgR promoter. Reduced levels of pIgR were observed even when inhibitors were added ,24 hr after cytokines suggesting that prolonged activation of NF-,B is required. Finally, reporter gene studies with NF-,B enhancer elements indicated that IFN-, alone and IL-4 in combination with other cytokines activated NF-,B in HT29 cells. Together, these studies provide additional insight into the signalling pathways that contribute to expression of the pIgR, a critical player in mucosal immunity. [source]


Down-Regulation of Procollagen ,1[I] Messenger RNA by Titanium Particles Correlates with Nuclear Factor ,B (NF-,B) Activation and Increased Rel A and NF-,B1 Binding to the Collagen Promoter

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 3 2001
Kenneth A. Roebuck
Abstract Previously, we showed that exposure of human osteoblasts to titanium particles stimulates protein tyrosine phosphorylation (PTP), activates the transcription factor nuclear factor ,B (NF-,B), and causes an approximately 50% decrease in the steady-state messenger RNA (mRNA) level of procollagen ,1[I]. In this study, we identify three NF-,B binding sites within the human procollagen ,1[I] gene promoter, show that titanium particles stimulate their binding of the NF-,B subunits Rel A (p65) and NF-,B1 (p50), and find NF-,B activation correlates with collagen gene suppression by titanium particles in osteoblasts. Protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) inhibitors, which significantly reduce the suppressive effect of titanium particles on collagen gene expression, inhibited NF-,B binding activity showing that titanium particle stimulation of PTK signals in osteoblasts are critical for both NF-,B activation and collagen gene expression. The antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), which also inhibits the titanium particle suppression of collagen, abrogated the titanium particle activation of NF-,B, suggesting the involvement of redox signals in NF-,B-mediated collagen gene expression. The RNA polymerase II inhibitor actinomycin D (Act D) decreased procollagen ,1[I] mRNA expression and effectively blocked the titanium-induced suppressive effect, suggesting that titanium particles activate a cascade of signals in osteoblasts, which result in a suppression of procollagen ,1[I] mRNA. Collectively, these results show that titanium particles can activate NF-,B signaling in osteoblasts and suggest that NF-,B binding to the collagen gene promoter has a functional role in the down-regulation of procollagen ,1[I] gene transcription. [source]


Substance P initiates NFAT-dependent gene expression in spinal neurons

JOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2006
V. S. Seybold
Abstract Persistent hyperalgesia is associated with increased expression of proteins that contribute to enhanced excitability of spinal neurons, however, little is known about how expression of these proteins is regulated. We tested the hypothesis that Substance P stimulation of neurokinin receptors on spinal neurons activates the transcription factor nuclear factor of activated T cells isoform 4 (NFATc4). The occurrence of NFATc4 in spinal cord was demonstrated with RT-PCR and immunocytochemistry. Substance P activated NFAT-dependent gene transcription in primary cultures of neonatal rat spinal cord transiently transfected with a luciferase DNA reporter construct. The effect of Substance P was mediated by neuronal neurokinin-1 receptors that coupled to activation of protein kinase C, l -type voltage-dependent calcium channels, and calcineurin. Interestingly, Substance P had no effect on cyclic AMP response element (CRE)-dependent gene expression. Conversely, calcitonin gene-related peptide, which activated CRE-dependent gene expression, did not activate NFAT signaling. These data provide evidence that peptides released from primary afferent neurons regulate discrete patterns of gene expression in spinal neurons. Because the release of Substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide from primary afferent neurons is increased following peripheral injury, these peptides may differentially regulate the expression of proteins that underlie persistent hyperalgesia. [source]


Co-localization of inducible nitric oxide synthase and phosphorylated Akt in the lesional skins of patients with melasma

THE JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY, Issue 1 2009
Ho-Youn JO
ABSTRACT Activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS)/nitric oxide (NO) pathway in keratinocytes has been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of melanogenesis. Akt activation plays an important role in the activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor (NF)-,B and subsequent elevation of iNOS expression. In the present study, we highly detected both iNOS protein and Akt phosphorylation in keratinocytes of the basal layer of the epidermis at the junction with the dermis of melasma skin biopsy specimens, but not in normal skin tissues, from nine patients using immunohistological analysis. iNOS protein and phosphorylated Akt were co-localized in the lesional skins, and their levels were highly correlated (R2 = 0.69). Furthermore, iNOS mRNA was also detected in an additional three skin biopsy specimens, but not in normal skin, by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Our results describe that iNOS expression is elevated in human melasma lesions, probably via activation of the Akt/NF-,B pathway, indicating that NO production plays an important role in the mechanism of hyperpigmentation in human facial melasma. [source]


The HIV protease inhibitor ritonavir synergizes with butyrate for induction of apoptotic cell death and mediates expression of heme oxygenase-1 in DLD-1 colon carcinoma cells

BRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 7 2004
Heiko Mühl
The protease inhibitor ritonavir is an integral part of current antiretroviral therapy targeting human immunodeficiency virus. Recent studies demonstrate that ritonavir induces apoptotic cell death with high efficiency in lymphoblastoid cell lines. Moreover, ritonavir can suppress activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor- ,B and is an inhibitor of interleukin-1, and tumor necrosis factor- , production in peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Thus, ritonavir appears to have anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we investigated in DLD-1 colon carcinoma cell effects of ritonavir on apoptotic cell death and expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), an anti-inflammatory enzyme that may be critically involved in the modulation of colonic inflammation. Compared to unstimulated control, ritonavir resulted in a moderate increase in the rate of apoptotic cell death as observed after 20 h of incubation. Notably, ritonavir potently synergized with the short-chain fatty acid butyrate for induction of caspase-3-dependent apoptosis in DLD-1 cells. Ritonavir enhanced mRNA and protein expression of HO-1 in DLD-1 cells. Ritonavir-induced HO-1 protein was suppressed by SB203580 or SB202190 and preceded by immediate upregulation of cellular c-Fos and c-Jun protein levels. This process was associated with induction of activator protein-1 as detected by electrophoretic mobility shift analysis. The present data suggest that ritonavir has the potential to curb colon carcinogenesis by reducing cell growth via mechanisms that include apoptosis and by simultaneously modulating colonic inflammation via induction of anti-inflammatory HO-1. British Journal of Pharmacology (2004) 143, 890,898. doi:10.1038/sj.bjp.0706023 [source]