Novel insights into the regulation of antioxidant-response-element-mediated gene expression by electrophiles: induction of the transcriptional repressor BACH1 by Nrf2.

A central mechanism in cellular defence against oxidative or electrophilic stress is mediated by transcriptional induction of genes via the ARE (antioxidant-response element), a cis-acting sequence present in the regulatory regions of genes involved in the detoxification and elimination of reactive oxidants and electrophiles. The ARE binds different bZIP (basic-region leucine zipper) transcription factors, most notably Nrf2 (nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2) that functions as a transcriptional activator via heterodimerization with small Maf proteins. Although ARE activation by Nrf2 is relatively well understood, the mechanisms by which ARE-mediated signalling is down-regulated are poorly known. Transcription factor BACH1 [BTB (broad-complex, tramtrack and bric-a-brac) and CNC (cap'n'collar protein) homology 1] binds to ARE-like sequences, functioning as a transcriptional repressor in a subset of ARE-regulated genes, thus antagonizing the activator function of Nrf2. In the present study, we have demonstrated that BACH1 itself is regulated by Nrf2 as it is induced by Nrf2 overexpression and by Nrf2-activating agents in an Nrf2-dependent manner. Furthermore, a functional ARE site was identified at +1411 from the transcription start site of transcript variant 2 of BACH1. We conclude that BACH1 is a bona fide Nrf2 target gene and that induction of BACH1 by Nrf2 may serve as a feedback-inhibitory mechanism for ARE-mediated gene regulation.

Sulforaphane inhibits endothelial lipase expression through NF-κB in endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Endothelial lipase (EL) is a new member of triacylglycerol lipase family that has been shown to decrease high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels leading to increased risk of atherosclerosis. Its expression is increased during inflammation and by inflammatory cytokines. Sulforaphane (SFN) is a naturally occurring isothiocyanate present in cruciferous vegetables that has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Nuclear factor (NF)-κB is one of the molecular targets for SFN-mediated protective effects. Our aim was therefore to assess whether SFN could impact on EL expression via modulation of NF-κB pathway. METHODS AND RESULTS: Quantitative PCR and Western blot results demonstrated that SFN inhibited tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-mediated induction of EL in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Lentiviral transduction of HUVEC with mutated form of IκB-α (IκBM) as well as silencing of NF-κB subunit p65 using RNA interference revealed that TNF-α-mediated induction of EL is mediated through NF-κB pathway. In addition, a total of five NF-κB binding sites were found in LIPG gene, which encodes EL. SFN inhibited binding of NF-κB to these sites analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA). SFN also inhibited TNF-α mediated phosphorylation of IκB kinase (IKK) 1/2 and IκB-α. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results indicate that SFN inhibits EL expression via inhibition of NF-κB which may have a beneficial effect on HDL cholesterol levels.