Tissue-specific trans-activation of renin gene by targeted expression of adenovirus E1A in transgenic mice

We generated two transgenic mice carrying the adenovirus type 12 E1 region genes under control of the human renin promoter, in which the E1A and E1B genes were expressed predominantly in the kidney. Interestingly, renal transcription of the gene for mouse renin was shown to be elevated at 28 and 40 folds as compared in those of control animals, but histone mRNA levels were unchanged. Although the transfected mouse renin promoter was promiscuously trans-activated by E1A in HeLa cells where the endogenous renin gene was silent, the transgenic studies suggested that a cellular factor(s), in addition to E1A, was required for the tissue-specific renin gene activation. These findings provide the in vivo evidence that E1A could trans-activate cellular gene transcription in a tissue-specific manner.