[HTML][HTML] Role of intron 1 in smooth muscle α-actin transcriptional regulation in activated mesangial cells in vivo
N Kawada, T Moriyama, A Ando, T Koyama, M Hori… - Kidney international, 1999 - Elsevier
N Kawada, T Moriyama, A Ando, T Koyama, M Hori, T Miwa, E Imai
Kidney international, 1999•ElsevierRole of intron 1 in smooth muscle α-actin transcriptional regulation in activated mesangial
cells in vivo. Background The activation of glomerular mesangial cells is one of the early,
important features of progressive glomerular disease. Smooth muscle α-actin (SMαA) is an
excellent marker of activated mesangial cells. However, the mechanisms of SMαA regulation
are only available from in vitro investigation. Methods We examined in vivo promoter
analysis of the SMαA gene-utilizing transgenic mice harboring different promoter regions of …
cells in vivo. Background The activation of glomerular mesangial cells is one of the early,
important features of progressive glomerular disease. Smooth muscle α-actin (SMαA) is an
excellent marker of activated mesangial cells. However, the mechanisms of SMαA regulation
are only available from in vitro investigation. Methods We examined in vivo promoter
analysis of the SMαA gene-utilizing transgenic mice harboring different promoter regions of …
Role of intron 1 in smooth muscle α-actin transcriptional regulation in activated mesangial cells in vivo.
Background
The activation of glomerular mesangial cells is one of the early, important features of progressive glomerular disease. Smooth muscle α-actin (SMαA) is an excellent marker of activated mesangial cells. However, the mechanisms of SMαA regulation are only available from in vitro investigation.
Methods
We examined in vivo promoter analysis of the SMαA gene-utilizing transgenic mice harboring different promoter regions of the SMαA gene fused to chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT). CAT activities were tested in primary cultured mesangial cells and in glomerular legions of Habu venom glomerulonephritis.
Results
The DNA sequence -891 to +3828, which contains exon 1, intron 1, and the first 14 bp of exon 2 in addition to the 5′-flanking sequence of the SMαA gene, induced high levels of transcription in activated mesangial cells in in vivo habu venom glomerulonephritis and in cultured mesangial cells derived from transgenic mice. The DNA region -891 to -124 was a positive element in mesangial cells derived from transgenic mice. Deletions (3316 or 137 bp) in intron 1 reduced transcription to undetectable levels. The 137 bp sequence is highly conserved among several species, containing one CArG box element, which is one of the key motifs for transcriptional activation of contractile-related proteins. In vitro transfection analysis failed to demonstrate these positive effects of intron 1 and region -891 to -124.
Conclusions
In vivo promoter analysis of the SMαA gene provided new information about the transcriptional regulation of SMαA in activated mesangial cells. The DNA region -891 to -124 has a positive effect on SMαA transcription in cultured mesangial cells. The intron 1 region (+1088 to +1224) plays a pivotal role in SMαA transcription in activated mesangial cells in vivo. Further analysis of this conserved region in intron 1, including the CArG motif, will be of great value in understanding the molecular mechanisms of mesangial activation.
Elsevier