Gut-enriched Krüppel-like factor interaction with Smad3 inhibits myofibroblast differentiation

Gut-enriched Krüppel-like factor (GKLF) has been reported to partially inhibit alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) gene transcription by competing for binding to the TGF-beta control element (TCE) with known activators such as Sp1 and other Krüppel-like factors. This incomplete inhibition via the TCE suggests an additional mechanism, which was evaluated in this study. The results showed that an alpha-SMA promoter mutated in the TCE remained susceptible to inhibition by GKLF in rat lung fibroblasts consistent with the existence of an additional TCE-independent mechanism. Since TGF-beta- induced alpha-SMA expression is Smad3-dependent, potential interaction between GKLF and Smad3 was examined as a basis for this additional inhibitory mechanism. Co-immunoprecipitation and yeast two-hybrid assays revealed that GKLF could bind Smad3 through the Smad3 MH2 domain. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays and ChIP assay indicated that this GKLF-Smad3 interaction inhibited Smad3 binding to the Smad3-binding element (SBE) in the alpha-SMA promoter, and the activity of an SBE containing artificial promoter. Further analysis using smad3(-/-) fibroblasts confirmed that the TCE-independent inhibition by GKLF was dependent on Smad3. These data taken together suggest that in addition to inhibition via the TCE, GKLF represses alpha-SMA gene expression by interacting with Smad3 to prevent Smad3 binding to the SBE. It represents the first evidence to directly link GKLF with Smad3, a key intracellular mediator of TGF-beta signaling, which should lead to a clearer understanding of the mechanism of how GKLF regulates TGF-beta-induced gene expression.