IRF2BP2 is a skeletal and cardiac muscle-enriched ischemia-inducible activator of VEGFA expression.

We sought to identify an essential component of the TEAD4/VGLL4 transcription factor complex that controls vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression in muscle. A yeast 2-hybrid screen was used to clone a novel component of the TEAD4 complex from a human heart cDNA library. We identified interferon response factor 2 binding protein 2 (IRF2BP2) and confirmed its presence in the TEAD4/VGLL4 complex in vivo by coimmunoprecipitation and mammalian 2-hybrid assays. Coexpression of IRF2BP2 with TEAD4/VGLL4 or TEAD1 alone potently activated, whereas knockdown of IRF2BP2 reduced, VEGFA expression in C(2)C(12) muscle cells. Thus, IRF2BP2 is required to activate VEGFA expression. In mouse embryos, IRF2BP2 was ubiquitously expressed but became progressively enriched in the fetal heart, skeletal muscles, and lung. Northern blot analysis revealed high levels of IRF2BP2 mRNA in adult human heart and skeletal muscles, but immunoblot analysis showed low levels of IRF2BP2 protein in skeletal muscle, indicating post-transcriptional regulation of IRF2BP2 expression. IRF2BP2 protein levels are markedly increased by ischemia in skeletal and cardiac muscle compared to normoxic controls. IRF2BP2 is a novel ischemia-induced coactivator of VEGFA expression that may contribute to revascularization of ischemic cardiac and skeletal muscles.

Regulation of the black bullhead hepatic beta-adrenoceptors.

Black bullhead catfish (Ameiurus melas) were exposed to air for 1 h to examine the effect of an acute stress on the distribution and function of the hepatic beta-adrenoceptors (beta-ARs). Air exposure significantly reduced both adrenaline (ADR)- and noradrenaline (NADR)-stimulated glucose production in isolated hepatocytes with no effect on either receptor affinity (K(d)) or number of binding sites (B(max)). A 24 h exposure of isolated hepatocytes to the beta-agonist isoproterenol also had no significant impact on either binding parameter. Competition studies using selective agonists and antagonists suggest that the hepatic beta-AR in this species is pharmacologically beta(2)-like. However in addition to the beta(2)-AR, molecular evidence provides support for the existence of hepatic beta-ARs that phylogenetically group with the beta(3)-ARs and the beta(1)-ARs. Despite the presence of several potential phosphorylation sites in the third intracellular loop and cytoplasmic tail of the bullhead beta(2)-AR, no significant changes were observed in the binding parameters. While physiological data supports the presence of only a single subtype, molecular data supports the existence of multiple beta-AR subtypes in this species. The mechanisms thought to regulate mammalian beta-ARs exist in the bullhead ARs reported here but these mechanisms are not as effective in this fish system as in mammals.

Regulation of the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatic beta2-adrenoceptor by adrenergic agonists.

The characteristics of hepatic beta(2)-adrenoceptors (AR) were examined in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) chased once per day to exhaustion for up to 7 days or fed the repartitioning agents clenbuterol (CLEN) or ractopamine (RACT) that function in mammals as beta-agonists. A one-day chase and feeding the CLEN for 37 days resulted in a significant 27% and 33% decrease, respectively, in the number of CGP-binding sites (B(max)) with no significant change in affinity (Kd) of hepatic beta(2)-ARs. Despite the significant decrease in beta(2)-AR numbers with CLEN feeding, no significant differences were found for either beta(2)-AR mRNA levels or adenylyl cyclase (ACase) activities. In addition, CLEN displayed only partial agonist activities as it was found to be more effective at blocking isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP production in isolated hepatocytes than stimulating cAMP production. The small affects of RACT may be related to its low active stereoisomer content and low affinity for the trout beta(2)-AR. Agonist regulation of the trout hepatic beta(2)-ARs may involve down-regulation of the receptors without affecting responsiveness.

Activity of the unique beta-adrenergic Na+/H+ exchanger in trout erythrocytes is controlled by a novel beta3-AR subtype.

beta-Adrenoceptors (beta-ARs) are seven-transmembrane domain, G protein-coupled receptors that transduce the cellular effects of epinephrine and norepinephrine and play a pivotal role in the vertebrate stress response. This study reports the cloning and characterization of two previously unreported beta-ARs from the rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Phylogenetic analysis of amino acid sequences indicates that both beta-ARs are homologs of the mammalian beta3-AR. Analysis of tissue expression patterns indicates that one of these trout beta3-adrenoceptors (beta3a-AR) is highly expressed in gill and heart, whereas the second (beta3b-AR) is highly expressed by red blood cells (RBC). Expression of the beta3b-AR in the RBC coupled with the finding of a single category of beta-AR binding sites on RBC membranes provides strong evidence for the control of the trout RBC beta-AR Na+/H+ exchanger (beta-NHE) activity by signaling through this beta3b-subtype and not through a beta1-subtype as previously proposed. The RBC-specific trout beta3b-AR exhibits binding characteristics that distinguish this receptor from each of the three pharmacologically defined categories of mammalian beta-ARs (beta1-, beta2-, and beta3-AR). This study is the first to report the presence of a beta3-AR subtype in a fish species, and the proposal that the beta3b-AR controls RBC beta-NHE activity represents a novel role for the beta3-AR subtype in vertebrates.