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Published on: September 21, 2011
Nestin modulates glucocorticoid receptor function by cytoplasmic anchoring.
Rudolph Reimer1, Heike Helmbold, Beata Szalay
1Heinrich-Pette-Institute for Experimental Virology and Immunology at the University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany.
Nestin and vimentin intermediate filaments anchor the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in progenitor cells. This anchoring is crucial for GR-mediated growth suppression, with nestin regulating GR
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
Background:
- Nestin is a key intermediate filament (IF) protein in proliferating progenitor cells and regenerating tissues.
- Nestin expression decreases during cell differentiation.
- Glucocorticoid receptor (GR) regulates growth and differentiation during embryonic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of nestin in the cellular localization and function of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR).
- To determine how nestin-vimentin interactions influence GR-mediated growth suppression.
Main Methods:
- Microscopic studies on cultured cells to visualize GR and IF association.
- Use of nestin-deficient and vimentin-deficient cells.
- Expression of exogenous nestin and vimentin.
- RNA interference (shRNA) to suppress nestin expression.
- Analysis of cell cycle progression.
Main Results:
- Nestin and vimentin form heteromeric filaments that anchor the unliganded GR in the cytoplasm.
- Loss of nestin leads to nuclear GR accumulation and an irreversible G1/S cell cycle arrest.
- Nestin-mediated anchoring of GR modulates GR's growth-suppressive activity.
- Suppression of GR before nestin prevents the cell cycle arrest.
Conclusions:
- Heteromeric nestin-vimentin filaments are essential for anchoring the glucocorticoid receptor (GR).
- Nestin plays a critical role in regulating GR's anti-proliferative activity in undifferentiated tissues.
- Nestin expression determines the timing and tissue-specificity of GR-mediated growth control activation.
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