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Published on: October 27, 2020
Transcriptional regulation of mouse mast cell protease-7 by TGF-beta
Masayuki Funaba1, Teruo Ikeda, Masaru Murakami
1Laboratory of Nutrition, Azabu University School of Veterinary Medicine, 1-17-71 Fuchinobe, Sagamihara 229-8501, Japan. funaba@azabu-u.ac.jp
Abstract:
Mouse mast cell protease-7 (mmcp-7) is a tryptase predominantly expressed in differentiated connective tissue-type mast cells. Previous study revealed that transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) increases gene transcript of mmcp-7 in mast cells. The present study explored molecular mechanism of the up-regulation of mmcp-7 by TGF-beta. Luciferase-based reporter assays using deletion and point mutations of mmcp-7 promoter showed a critical region spanning nt -126 to -122 relative to the transcriptional start site, a Smad-binding element, for transcriptional activation by the TGF-beta pathway. In addition, a region from nt -104 to -98, a TPA-responsive element, was also necessary for the transactivation. Consistent with the current model for the TGF-beta signaling, Smad4 was required for the transcription of mmcp-7 by Smad3, a signal mediator of TGF-beta. Treatment with TGF-beta in mast cells resulted in the differential gene induction of the AP-1 components, i.e., transient induction of c-fos but not of c-jun and junB. Expression of c-fos further enhanced Smad3 and Smad4-induced transcription of mmcp-7, whereas c-jun expression inhibited the transcription. Our results suggest that TGF-beta stimulates mmcp-7 transcription through the Smad3-Smad4 pathway as well as c-fos induction, and that the AP-1 components distinctly related with the TGF-beta pathway.
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