Activator protein-2α functions as a master regulator of multiple transcription factors in the mouse liver

  1. Qingjie Li1,*,
  2. Cunhui Luo5,6,
  3. Christiane V. Löhr2,
  4. Roderick H. Dashwood3,4

Article first published online: 17 JUN 2011

DOI: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00827.x

Issue

Hepatology Research

Hepatology Research

Volume 41, Issue 8, pages 776–783, August 2011

Additional Information

How to Cite

Li, Q., Luo, C., Löhr, C. V. and Dashwood, R. H. (2011), Activator protein-2α functions as a master regulator of multiple transcription factors in the mouse liver. Hepatology Research, 41: 776–783. doi: 10.1111/j.1872-034X.2011.00827.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, Texas

  2. 2

    College of Veterinary Medicine

  3. 3

    Linus Pauling Institute

  4. 4

    Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA

  5. 5

    College of Food Science and Technology, Hunan Agricultural University

  6. 6

    Hunan Institute for Drug Control, Changsha, Hunan, China

*Professor Qingjie Li, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, Galveston, TX 77550-1083, USA. Email: quli@utmb.edu

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 JUL 2011
  2. Article first published online: 17 JUN 2011
  3. Received 10 February 2011; revision 22 April 2011; accepted 25 April 2011.

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (378K)

Keywords:

  • activator protein-1;
  • activator protein AP-2;
  • GATA4 transcription factor;
  • liver;
  • protein kinase A

Aim:  Activator protein 2α (AP-2α) belongs to the AP-2 family of transcription factors that are involved in the regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis and carcinogenesis and has been suggested to function as a tumor suppressor in many cancers. However, the physiological role of AP-2α in hepatocytes is unknown. The present study is to characterize the expression and function of AP-2α in the liver of conscience mouse.

Methods:  Exogenous AP-2α was overexpressed in the mouse liver by in vivo gene delivery and changes in transcription factor expression were identified by using protein-DNA arrays and immunoblotting.

Results:  Western blotting and protein/DNA arrays showed that AP-2α is expressed in the nuclei of mouse hepatocytes. Overexpression of AP-2αin vivo significantly suppressed transcription factors AP-1, CREB and c-Myc, and markedly increased CBF, c-Myb, NF-1, Pax-5, RXR, Smad3/4, TR(DR-4), USF-1 and GATA. Among all GATA proteins, only GATA-4 level was dramatically elevated and there was a concomitant loss of phospho-GATA-4. Corresponding changes were detected in upstream kinases Akt, GSK-3β and PKA, which regulates the phosphorylation status and stability of GATA-4 protein.

Conclusions:  AP-2α is expressed in mouse hepatocytes and it acts as a master regulator of numerous transcription factors in the liver.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (378K)