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Endotoxin, zymosan, and cytokines decrease the expression of the transcription factor, carbohydrate response element
Kenneth R Feingold1, Judy K Shigenaga, Sophie M Patzek
1Metabolism Section, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, University of California-San Francisco, 4150 Clement Street, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA. kenneth.feingold@ucsf.edu
Abstract:
Carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) is a recently discovered transcription factor whose levels and activity are increased by glucose leading to the activation of target genes, which include acetyl-CoA carboxylase, fatty acid synthase, and liver-type pyruvate kinase. Here, we demonstrate that lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment causes a marked decrease in ChREBP mRNA and protein levels in the liver of mice fed a normal chow diet or in mice fasted for 24 h and then re-fed a high carbohydrate diet. This decrease occurs rapidly and is a sensitive response (half-maximal dose 0.1 μg/mouse). The decrease in ChREBP is accompanied by a decrease in the expression of ChREBP target genes. Zymosan and turpentine treatment also decrease hepatic ChREBP levels and the expression of its target genes. Additionally, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) decrease liver ChREBP expression both in vivo and in Hep3B cells in culture. Finally, LPS decreased ChREBP expression in muscle and adipose tissue. These studies demonstrate that ChREBP is down-regulated during the acute phase response resulting in alterations in the expression of ChREBP regulated target genes. Thus, ChREBP joins a growing list of transcription factors that are regulated during the acute phase response.
Insights
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and inflammatory stimuli rapidly decrease carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) levels in mice. This down-regulation impacts ChREBP target genes, highlighting ChREBP
Area of Science:
- Metabolism
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Carbohydrate response element binding protein (ChREBP) regulates glucose metabolism genes.
- ChREBP activity increases with glucose, promoting lipogenesis.
- The regulation of ChREBP during inflammatory states is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of inflammatory stimuli on ChREBP expression and activity.
- To determine if ChREBP is regulated during the acute phase response.
- To identify tissues where ChREBP expression is affected by inflammation.
Main Methods:
- Mice were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), zymosan, or turpentine.
- Hepatic ChREBP mRNA and protein levels were measured.
- Expression of ChREBP target genes was analyzed.
- In vitro studies used Hep3B cells treated with TNF-α and IL-1β.
Main Results:
- LPS treatment caused a rapid and dose-dependent decrease in hepatic ChREBP mRNA and protein.
- Zymosan and turpentine also reduced liver ChREBP levels and target gene expression.
- Pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β decreased ChREBP expression in vivo and in vitro.
- ChREBP expression was also reduced in muscle and adipose tissue following LPS treatment.
Conclusions:
- ChREBP is significantly down-regulated during the acute phase response induced by inflammatory stimuli.
- This down-regulation affects the expression of key metabolic genes regulated by ChREBP.
- ChREBP is identified as a transcription factor regulated during acute inflammation.
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