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Updated: May 21, 2026

Reverse Yeast Two-hybrid System to Identify Mammalian Nuclear Receptor Residues that Interact with Ligands and/or Antagonists
Published on: November 15, 2013
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorα agonists differentially regulate inhibitor of DNA binding expression in
María Del Carmen González1, J Christopher Corton, Nuria Acero
1Departmento de Biología, Facultades de Farmacia y Medicina, Universidad San Pablo-CEU, Urbanización Montepríncipe, Boadilla del Monte, 28668 Madrid, Spain.
Abstract:
Inhibitor of DNA binding (Id2) is a helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcription factor that participates in cell differentiation and proliferation. Id2 has been linked to the development of cardiovascular diseases since thiazolidinediones, antidiabetic agents and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonists, have been reported to diminish Id2 expression in human cells. We hypothesized that PPARα activators may also alter Id2 expression. Fenofibrate diminished hepatic Id2 expression in both late pregnant and unmated rats. In 24 hour fasted rats, Id2 expression was decreased under conditions known to activate PPARα. In order to determine whether the fibrate effects were mediated by PPARα, wild-type mice and PPARα-null mice were treated with Wy-14,643 (WY). WY reduced Id2 expression in wild-type mice without an effect in PPARα-null mice. In contrast, fenofibrate induced Id2 expression after 24 hours of treatment in human hepatocarcinoma cells (HepG2). MK-886, a PPARα antagonist, did not block fenofibrate-induced activation of Id2 expression, suggesting a PPARα-independent effect was involved. These findings confirm that Id2 is a gene responsive to PPARα agonists. Like other genes (apolipoprotein A-I, apolipoprotein A-V), the opposite directional transcriptional effect in rodents and a human cell line further emphasizes that PPARα agonists have different effects in rodents and humans.
Insights
Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) activators alter Inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (Id2) gene expression. While fenofibrate decreased Id2 in rats and Wy-14,643 reduced it in mice, fenofibrate increased Id2 in human cells, indicating species-specific effects.
Area of Science:
- Molecular biology
- Genetics
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Inhibitor of DNA binding 2 (Id2) is a transcription factor involved in cell differentiation and proliferation.
- Id2 expression is modulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) gamma agonists, linking it to cardiovascular disease.
- The role of PPAR alpha (PPARα) activators on Id2 expression remains largely unexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of PPARα activators on Id2 gene expression.
- To determine if PPARα mediates the observed changes in Id2 expression.
- To compare the effects of PPARα activators on Id2 expression in rodents and human cells.
Main Methods:
- Treatment of rats and mice (wild-type and PPARα-null) with fenofibrate and Wy-14,643 (WY).
- Assessment of hepatic Id2 expression in rodents.
- Treatment of human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells with fenofibrate and MK-886 (PPARα antagonist).
- Analysis of Id2 expression in human cells.
Main Results:
- Fenofibrate decreased hepatic Id2 expression in rats.
- Wy-14,643 reduced Id2 expression in wild-type mice but not in PPARα-null mice, confirming PPARα mediation in rodents.
- Fenofibrate increased Id2 expression in HepG2 cells, an effect not blocked by a PPARα antagonist, suggesting a PPARα-independent mechanism in humans.
- Id2 is confirmed as a gene responsive to PPARα agonists.
Conclusions:
- PPARα activators modulate Id2 gene expression.
- The transcriptional effects of PPARα agonists on Id2 exhibit species-specific differences between rodents and humans.
- These findings highlight the complexity of PPARα signaling and its differential impact across species.
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