RESUMEN
Prx1 and Prx2 are homeobox transcription factors expressed during vasculogenesis. To begin to elucidate how Prx1 and Prx2 are regulated and function in the adult vasculature, in situ hybridization studies were performed. Prx1 and Prx2 mRNAs were not detected in normal adult rat pulmonary arteries; however, both genes were induced with vascular disease, colocalizing to sites of tenascin-C (TN-C) expression. Because catabolism of the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a critical step in the development of vascular disease, we investigated whether changes in vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC)-ECM interactions regulate Prx1 and Prx2. A10 SMCs cultured on native type I collagen showed low levels of Prx1 and Prx2 mRNA expression, whereas cells cultured on denatured collagen showed higher levels of expression of both genes. At a functional level, transfection of SMCs with a Prx1 expression plasmid significantly increased their growth. Because TN-C also promotes SMC growth and its expression is also upregulated by denatured collagen, we tested and thereafter showed that Prx1 expression significantly enhances TN-C gene promoter activity 20-fold. Similar experiments conducted with truncated Prx1 proteins showed that the N-terminal portion and the homeodomain of Prx1 were necessary to induce the bulk of TN-C promoter activity. These findings support the hypothesis that Prx genes are regulated by changes in SMC adhesion and play key morphoregulatory roles during the development and progression of pulmonary vascular disease in adults.
Asunto(s)
Proteínas de Homeodominio/genética , Proteínas de Homeodominio/fisiología , Hipertensión Pulmonar/genética , Músculo Liso Vascular/metabolismo , Tenascina/genética , Factores de Transcripción/genética , Factores de Transcripción/fisiología , Animales , Sitios de Unión , Western Blotting , Adhesión Celular/fisiología , División Celular/genética , Línea Celular , Clonación Molecular , Regulación de la Expresión Génica , Proteínas Fluorescentes Verdes , Hipertensión Pulmonar/metabolismo , Hipertensión Pulmonar/patología , Luciferasas/genética , Luciferasas/metabolismo , Proteínas Luminiscentes/genética , Proteínas Luminiscentes/metabolismo , Masculino , Músculo Liso Vascular/citología , Regiones Promotoras Genéticas/genética , ARN Mensajero/genética , ARN Mensajero/metabolismo , Ratas , Ratas Sprague-Dawley , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusión/genética , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusión/metabolismo , Tenascina/metabolismoRESUMEN
Barx1 and Barx2 are homeodomain proteins originally identified using regulatory elements of genes encoding certain cell adhesion molecules (CAMs). In the present study, we characterize regions of Barx2 that bind to regulatory elements of genes encoding three CAMs, L1, neuron-glia CAM (Ng-CAM), and neural CAM (N-CAM), and identify domains of Barx2 that regulate N-CAM transcription. The homeodomain of Barx2 was sufficient for binding to homeodomain binding sites (HBS) from all three CAM genes. The presence of a 17-amino acid Barx basic region resulted in a 2-fold decrease in binding to HBS sequences from the Ng-CAM and L1 genes, whereas it led to a 6.5-fold increase in binding to the HBS from the N-CAM promoter. Thus, the Barx basic region influences the strength and specificity of Barx2 binding to DNA. In co-transfection experiments, Barx2 repressed N-CAM promoter activity. A 24-residue N-terminal region of Barx2 was essential for repression. When this region was absent, Barx2 activated the N-CAM promoter. A 63-residue C-terminal domain was required for this activation. In GST pull-down experiments, Barx2 bound to proteins of the CREB family, CREB1 and ATF2. Overall, these findings provide a framework for understanding developmental and physiological contexts that influence repressor or activator functions of Barx2.