Transcriptional activation of the human cytotoxic serine protease gene CSP-B in T lymphocytes.

The cytotoxic serine protease B (CSP-B) gene is activated during cytotoxic T-lymphocyte maturation. In this report, we demonstrate that the PEER T-cell line (bearing gamma/delta T-cell receptors) accumulates CSP-B mRNA following exposure to 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and N6-2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (bt2cAMP) because of transcriptional activation of the CSP-B gene. TPA and bt2cAMP act synergistically to induce CSP-B expression, since neither agent alone causes activation of CSP-B transcription or mRNA accumulation. Chromatin upstream from the CSP-B gene is resistant to DNase I digestion in untreated PEER cells, but becomes sensitive following TPA-bt2cAMP treatment. Upon activation of PEER cells, a DNase I-hypersensitive site forms upstream from the CSP-B gene within a region that is highly conserved in the mouse. Transient transfection of CSP-B promoter constructs identified two regulatory regions in the CSP-B 5'-flanking sequence, located at positions -609 to -202 and positions -202 to -80. The region from -615 to -63 is sufficient to activate a heterologous promoter in activated PEER cells, but activation is orientation specific, suggesting that this region behaves as an upstream promoter element rather than a classical enhancer. Consensus AP-1, AP-2, and cAMP response elements are found upstream from the CSP-B gene (as are several T-cell-specific consensus elements), but the roles of these elements in CSP-B gene activation have yet to be determined.

Upper aerodigestive tract manifestations of cicatricial pemphigoid.

Cicatricial pemphigoid is a chronic mucosal blistering disorder with a predilection for subsequent scar formation. Many physicians may be unaware of the various presentations and sequelae of this uncommon disease. This report of the largest series to date focuses on the upper aerodigestive tract manifestations of this disease. During the years 1975 to 1985, 142 patients with cicatricial pemphigoid were seen at the Mayo Clinic. There were 93 women and 49 men; the age range was 21 to 92 years. Mucosal lesions occurred most often in the mucous membranes of the oral cavity and conjunctiva. Involvement of the pharynx, larynx, and esophagus was less common. Stenosis of the nasopharynx or larynx necessitated surgical repair in several persons and caused obstructive sleep apnea in two. The otolaryngologist can make an important contribution to the early recognition, diagnosis, and management of the complications of cicatricial pemphigoid.

A-T-rich scaffold attachment regions flank the hematopoietic serine protease genes clustered on chromosome 14q11.2.

We have analyzed approximately 70 kb of the chromosome 14q11.2 hematopoietic serine protease gene cluster for the presence of nuclear scaffold attachment regions (SARs). At least 12 potential attachment sites were identified. SARs are present on both sides of the CGL-1/CSP-B and CGL-2/CCP-X genes and upstream from the cathepsin G (CG) gene. We have further characterized the SARs immediately flanking the cytotoxic lymphocyte-specific CGL-1/CSP-B gene. These 5' and 3' SARs are highly A-T-rich, contain multiple attachment sites, and are associated with the scaffolds of nuclei derived from both lymphoid and erythroid cell lines. These SARs contain multiple consensus elements frequently associated with A-T-rich sequences, including the vertebrate topoisomerase II (topo II) consensus sequence, the A-box and T-box elements, and the yeast autonomous replicating sequence (ARS). The potential role for the nuclear scaffold in the transcriptional regulation of CGL-1/CSP-B expression is discussed.

Developmental changes in organic osmolytes in prenatal and postnatal rat tissues.

At high osmotic pressures, mammalian kidney medulla, heart, lens, and brain utilize organic osmolytes to regulate cell volume. However the types and proportions of these solutes vary among tissues in patterns and for non-osmotic roles not fully elucidated. To clarify these, we analyzed osmolyte-type solute contents in rat tissues at 7 and 2 days prenatal and at 0, 7, 14, 21 (weaning), 35 (juvenile) and 77 (adult) days postnatal. Placentas were dominated by betaine, taurine, and creatine, which decreased between the prenatal times. Fetuses were dominated by glutamate and taurine, which increased between the times. In cerebrum, hindbrain and diencephalon, taurine dominated at early stages, but dropped after postnatal day 7, while myo-inositol, glutamine, creatine and glutamate increased after birth, with the latter two dominating in adults. In olfactory bulb, taurine content declined gradually with age and was equal to glutamate in adults. In all brain regions, glycerophosphorylcholine (GPC) reached a peak in juveniles. In postnatal renal medulla, urea, sodium, GPC, betaine, and taurine increased sharply at day 21. Thereafter, most increased, but taurine decreased. In heart, taurine dominated, and increased with age along with creatine and glutamine, while glutamate decreased after postnatal day 7. In lens, taurine dominated and declined in adults. These patterns are discussed in light of hypotheses on non-osmotic and pathological roles of these solutes.

Liver metabolites in resting and exercising rats at 1 and 4 bar.

Groups of six rats were put into a compression chamber and exposed to an air pressure of 4 bar or remained at 1 bar. Half of each group was forced to swim in a tank of warm water; the other half remained at rest. A total of 28 rats was used. After 30 min the rats were killed, and part of the liver was rapidly (less than 10 s) removed and pressed between metal plates that had been cooled in liquid nitrogen. Analyses of the metabolites indicated a significant reduction gluconeogenesis in the animals exercising under pressure, probably due to a diminished return of substrates from the muscles. There also appeared to be the possibility of enzymatic control between fructose 6-phosphate and the triose phosphates.

Consensus AP-1 and CRE motifs upstream from the human cytotoxic serine protease B (CSP-B/CGL-1) gene synergize to activate transcription.

The human CGL-1/cytotoxic serine protease B gene (CSP-B; also known as granzyme B) is transcriptionally activated during cytotoxic T-lymphocyte maturation. Activation can be mimicked in the PEER T-cell leukemia cell line by treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) and N6-2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (bt2cAMP). In this report, we show that a consensus AP-1 element and a consensus cAMP response element (CRE) located 5' to the CSP-B transcriptional start site are both required for transcriptional activation of the CPS-B promoter in TPA + bt2cAMP-stimulated PEER cells. A 94-bp fragment containing both elements activates a heterologous promoter in an orientation-independent fashion. Several single nucleotide substitutions in the AP-1 site abolish activity of the 94-bp fragment. Several point mutations in the consensus CRE substantially reduce promoter activity, but one CRE mutation increases activity fourfold. Replacement of the CRE with a second copy of the AP-1 site results in a level of transcriptional activity comparable with that of the wild-type sequence, but replacement of the AP-1 site with a CRE abolishes activity. Neither the AP-1 site nor the CRE can be effectively replaced with an SP-1 site. Deletions between the AP-1 site and the CRE retain full activity only if helical spacing is preserved, suggesting that synergism between these two elements is either the result of cooperative binding of factors to the DNA or of cooperative binding of DNA-bound factors to another protein.

The 5'-flanking region of the human CGL-1/granzyme B gene targets expression of a reporter gene to activated T-lymphocytes in transgenic mice.

The human CSP-B/CGL-1 gene is the homologue of the mouse granzyme B/CCPI gene and encodes a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-specific serine protease. We have used regulatory sequences upstream from the CSP-B gene to drive human growth hormone gene expression in transgenic mice. Eleven founder mice were screened for transgene expression in activated T-cells. Expression was detected in 10 mice; levels of expression were integration site-dependent. The transgene was not expressed in resting lymphocytes but could be activated by treatment with concanavalin A or interleukin-2, indicating that CSP-B regulatory sequences are responsive to signals originating at either the T-cell receptor or the interleukin-2 receptor. Transgene expression was detected at the whole organ level only in lymph nodes and small intestine, where endogenous mouse CCPI mRNA was also present. The time course of transgene activation in T-lymphocytes was similar to that of the mouse CCPI gene. No differences in levels of expression of the transgene were observed in activated lymphocyte populations that had been depleted of either CD4+ or CD8+ cells; in contrast, the mouse CCPI gene was expressed primarily in CD8+ cells. Six CD4+ T-cell clones with Th0, Th1, or Th2 phenotypes were generated from a transgenic animal. All clones expressed moderate to high levels of the transgene, but only three clones expressed mouse CCPI, indicating that the transgene is disregulated in CD4+ T-cell subsets. The CSP-B regulatory unit represents a novel reagent for targeting gene expression to activated T-lymphocytes.

Structure and expression of a cluster of human hematopoietic serine protease genes found on chromosome 14q11.2.

We previously identified a cluster of hematopoietic serine protease genes on chromosome 14 at band q11.2. This cluster contains the cathepsin G gene and the two related cathepsin G-like genes CGL-1 and CGL-2. The CGL-1 gene is identical with the cytotoxic T cell serine protease CSP-B (also called SECT, and in mice, CCP1, granzyme B, or CTLA-1). In this report, we determined that CGL-2 is identical with a recently described gene called h-CCPX. The coding sequences of CG, CGL-1, and CGL-2 are 65-75% identical at the DNA level. The intervening sequences are much less conserved, except for introns 3 of the CGL-1 and CGL-2 genes, which are 93% identical. Each of the genes has the same overall organization, with 5 exons and 4 introns, very short 5' untranslated regions, and identical splice phases for all of the introns. Cathepsin G is expressed at high levels in promyelocytes/promonocytes, and CGL-1/CSP-B is expressed at high levels in activated cytolytic T cells, lymphokine-activated killer (LAK), and natural killer (NK) cells. CGL-2/h-CCPX is expressed at much lower levels in activated peripheral blood lymphocytes, LAK and NK cells. To begin to define the regulatory elements that target expression of each of these genes to their specific lineages at specific times, the 5' flanking region of each gene was sequenced. The 5' flanking regions are minimally related and have few conserved consensus elements. Further experiments will be required to determine the critical cis-acting regulatory sequences required for tissue- and development-specific expression of each of these genes.

A cluster of hematopoietic serine protease genes is found on the same chromosomal band as the human alpha/delta T-cell receptor locus.

The chymotrypsin-like family of serine protease genes includes several members that are expressed exclusively in subsets of hematopoietic cells. For example, human neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G are expressed only in myelomonocytic precursors, and cytotoxic-T-cell serine proteases are found only in cytotoxic lymphocytes. We have used a cathepsin G cDNA probe to clone two cathepsin G-like genes (designated CGL-1 and CGL-2) from a human genomic library. We have determined that CGL-1 is identical to a previously identified gene (known as CCPI, CTLA I, or cytotoxic serine protease B) that is expressed only in activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We show here that cathepsin G, CGL-1, and CGL-2 are linked on an approximately 50-kilobase locus found on human chromosome 14 at band q11.2. This gene cluster maps to the same chromosomal band as the alpha and delta T-cell receptor genes; this region is involved in most chromosomal translocations and inversions that are specifically associated with T-cell malignancies.

Genomic organization and chromosomal localization of the human cathepsin G gene.

Cathepsin G is a 26,000-Da serine protease that is found in the azurophil granules of neutrophils and monocytes. The cathepsin G gene is expressed at high levels in U937 promonocytic cells, but is down-regulated with phorbol-induced differentiation. To characterize the genomic sequences responsible for the regulated expression of this gene, we screened a human genomic fibroblast library using cathepsin G cDNA, and obtained two lambda clones that contained the cathepsin G locus. The cathepsin G gene spans 2.7 kilobase pairs of genomic DNA and consists of 5 exons and 4 introns. The genomic organization of cathepsin G is similar to that of human neutrophil elastase, rat mast cell protease II, murine adipsin, and murine cytotoxic T-cell serine proteases, with protease catalytic residues located near the borders of exons 2, 3, and 5. Using in situ hybridization techniques, we localized cathepsin G to chromosome 14q11.2, a site that is near the alpha/delta T-cell receptor complex. Cathepsin G transcription is abolished in U937 nuclei with 2 micrograms/ml alpha-amanitin, indicating that this gene is probably transcribed by RNA polymerase II. The 5' end of the cathepsin G gene was defined by primer extension and S1 nuclease protection assays. A TATA box is found at position -29, and a CAAT box is found at -69 with respect to the transcription initiation site. Having defined the genomic structure and chromosomal location of cathepsin G, we are now attempting to identify the DNA elements in or near this gene that mediate its tissue and development-specific pattern of expression.

Developmental regulation of the human cathepsin G gene in myelomonocytic cells.

Cathepsin G is a neutral serine protease that is found in the azurophil granules of neutrophils and monocytes. Previous experiments had demonstrated that cathepsin G is actively produced by the promonocytic U937 cell line, and that 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-induced differentiation of these cells toward macrophages resulted in a reduction of cathepsin G activity. In this study, we have analyzed the mechanism of this TPA-induced down-regulatory event. Using in situ hybridization techniques, we demonstrated that cathepsin G mRNA is detectable only at the promyelocytic stage of myeloid development. Using U937 promonocytic cells as a model, we demonstrated; 1) cathepsin G protein levels decline in TPA-treated cells; 2) this decline was due to a nearly complete loss of cathepsin G mRNA in cells treated with TPA for 24 h; and 3) the rate of cathepsin G mRNA loss with TPA treatment was similar to that with actinomycin D. These results suggested that cathepsin G transcription was down-regulated within several hours of TPA addition. This was directly tested by performing nuclear run-off assays of TPA-treated U937 cells; cathepsin G transcription was shown to be strand-specific, and declined within 4 h of TPA addition. Cathepsin G transcription was essentially undetectable 8 or more hours after TPA treatment, suggesting that down-regulation is predominantly transcriptional. Cycloheximide treatment of U937 cells resulted in a partial block of TPA-mediated cathepsin G down-regulation, indicating that continuous protein synthesis is required for down-regulation to occur. A newly synthesized protein or proteins may therefore be required for the transcriptional down-regulation of cathepsin G during the normal development of promyelocytes or promonocytes.

MLL, a mammalian trithorax-group gene, functions as a transcriptional maintenance factor in morphogenesis.

Determinative events in vertebrate embryogenesis appear to require the continuous expression of spatial regulators such as the clustered homeobox genes. The mechanisms that govern long-term patterns of gene expression are not well understood. In Drosophila, active and silent states of developmentally regulated loci are maintained by trithorax and Polycomb group. We have examined the developmental role of a mammalian homolog of trx and putative oncogene, Mll. Knockout mice reveal that Mll is required for maintenance of gene expression early in embryogenesis. Downstream targets of Mll including Hoxa7 are activated appropriately in the absence of Mll but require Mll for sustaining their expression. The Mll-/- phenotype manifests later in development and is characterized by branchial arch dysplasia and aberrant segmental boundaries of spinal ganglia and somites. Thus, Mll represents an essential mechanism of transcriptional maintenance in mammalian development, which functions in multiple morphogenetic processes.

The human mast cell chymase gene (CMA1): mapping to the cathepsin G/granzyme gene cluster and lineage-restricted expression.

Genes encoding T-cell-receptor alpha/delta chains, neutrophil cathepsin G, and lymphocyte CGL/granzymes are closely linked on chromosomal band 14q11.2. The current work identifies the human mast cell chymase gene (CMA1) as the fourth protease in this cluster and maps the gene to within 150 kb of the cathepsin G gene. The gene order is centromere-T cell receptor alpha/delta-CGL-1/granzyme B-CGL-2/granzyme H-cathepsin G-chymase. Chymase and cathepsin G genes are shown to be cotranscribed in the human mast cell line HMC-1 and in U-937 cells. Other cells transcribe cathepsin G or CGL/granzyme genes, but not chymase genes, suggesting a capacity for independent regulation. Comparison of the 5' flank of the chymase gene with those of cathepsin G and CGL/granzymes reveals little overall homology. Only short regions of the 5' flanks of the human and murine chymase gene sequenced to date are similar, suggesting that they are more distantly related than human and rodent CGL-1/granzyme B, the flanks of which are highly homologous. The expression patterns and clustering of genes provide possible clues to the presence of locus control regions that orchestrate lineage-restricted expression of leukocyte and mast cell proteases.

Mammalian Trithorax and polycomb-group homologues are antagonistic regulators of homeotic development.

Control of cell identity during development is specified in large part by the unique expression patterns of multiple homeobox-containing (Hox) genes in specific segments of an embryo. Trithorax and Polycomb-group (Trx-G and Pc-G) proteins in Drosophila maintain Hox expression or repression, respectively. Mixed lineage leukemia (MLL) is frequently involved in chromosomal translocations associated with acute leukemia and is the one established mammalian homologue of Trx. Bmi-1 was first identified as a collaborator in c-myc-induced murine lymphomagenesis and is homologous to the Drosophila Pc-G member Posterior sex combs. Here, we note the axial-skeletal transformations and altered Hox expression patterns of Mll-deficient and Bmi-1-deficient mice were normalized when both Mll and Bmi-1 were deleted, demonstrating their antagonistic role in determining segmental identity. Embryonic fibroblasts from Mll-deficient compared with Bmi-1-deficient mice demonstrate reciprocal regulation of Hox genes as well as an integrated Hoxc8-lacZ reporter construct. Reexpression of MLL was able to overcome repression, rescuing expression of Hoxc8-lacZ in Mll-deficient cells. Consistent with this, MLL and BMI-I display discrete subnuclear colocalization. Although Drosophila Pc-G and Trx-G members have been shown to maintain a previously established transcriptional pattern, we demonstrate that MLL can also dynamically regulate a target Hox gene.