Identification of new Rel/NFkappaB regulatory networks by focused genome location analysis

NFkappaB is an inducible transcription factor that controls kinetically complex patterns of gene expression. Several studies reveal multiple pathways linking NFkappaB to the promotion and progression of various cancers. Despite extensive interest and characterization, many NFkappaB controlled genes still remain to be identified. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation combined with microarray technology (ChIP/chip) to investigate the dynamic interaction of NFkappaB with the promoter regions of 100 genes known to be expressed in mitogen-induced T-cells. Six previously unrecognized NFkappaB controlled genes (ATM, EP300, TGFbeta, Selectin, MMP-1 and SFN) were identified. Each gene is induced in mitogen-stimulated T-cells, repressed by pharmacological NFkappaB blockade, reduced in cells deficient in the p50 NFkappaB subunit and dramatically repressed by RNAi specifically designed against cRel. A coregulatory role for Ets transcription factors in the expression of the NFkappaB controlled genes was predicted by comparative promoter analysis and confirmed by ChIP and by functional disruption of Ets. NFkappaB deficiency produces a deficit in ATM function and DNA repair indicating an active role for NFkappaB in maintaining DNA integrity. These results define new potential targets and transcriptional networks governed by NFkappaB and provide novel functional insights for the role of NFkappaB in genomic stability, cell cycle control, cell-matrix and cell-cell interactions during tumor progression.