Lynne C. Olds

The homeodomain protein Cdx2 regulates lactase gene promoter activity during enterocyte differentiation

BACKGROUND & AIMS Lactase is the intestinal disaccharidase responsible for digestion of lactose, the predominant carbohydrate in milk. Transcription of the lactase gene is activated during enterocyte differentiation. We have characterized the interaction between the lactase promoter and Cdx2, a homeodomain protein involved in regulating intestinal development and differentiation. METHODS Nuclear protein bound to the lactase gene cis element, CE-LPH1, was analyzed by electrophoretic mobility shift assays and supershifts with Cdx2 antibody. Lactase promoter activities were assayed in cells transfected with luciferase reporter constructs and a Cdx2 expression construct. RESULTS Electrophoretic mobility shift assay with CE-LPH1 yields a specific DNA/protein complex that requires the caudal-related protein binding site, TTTAC. The complex is recognized by Cdx2 antibody and is more abundant in differentiated enterocytes. A Cdx2 expression construct is able to activate transcription driven by the wild-type, but not a mutated, promoter and results in increased endogenous lactase messenger RNA. CONCLUSIONS The homeodomain protein Cdx2 interacts with the lactase promoter and is capable of activating transcription of the endogenous gene. In contrast to a previous report, Cdx2 interaction with the lactase promoter correlates with enterocyte differentiation. These conclusions are consistent with the role of Cdx2 in regulating intestinal cell differentiation.

Regulation of Intestine-specific Spatiotemporal Expression by the Rat Lactase Promoter*

Lactase gene transcription is spatially restricted to the proximal and middle small intestine of the developing mouse. To identify regions of the lactase gene involved in mediating the spatiotemporal expression pattern, transgenic mice harboring 0.8-, 1.3-, and 2.0-kb fragments of the 5′-flanking region cloned upstream of a firefly-luciferase reporter were generated. Transgene expression was assessed noninvasively in living mice using a sensitive low light imaging system. Two independent, 1.3- and 2.0-kb, lactase promoter-reporter transgenic lines expressed appropriate high levels of luciferase activity in the small intestine (300–3,000 relative light units/μg) with maximal expression in the middle segments. Post-weaned 30-day transgenic offspring also demonstrated an appropriate 4-fold maturational decline in luciferase expression in the small intestine. The pattern of the 2.0-kb promoter transgene mRNA abundance most closely mimicked that of the endogenous lactase gene with respect to spatiotemporal restriction. In contrast, a 0.8-kb promoter-reporter construct expressed low level luciferase activity (<25 relative light units/μg) in multiple organs and throughout the gastrointestinal tract in transgenic mice. Thus, a distinct 5′-region of the lactase promoter directs intestine-specific expression in the small intestine of transgenic mice, and regulatory sequences have been localized to a 1.2-kb region upstream of the lactase transcription start site. In addition, we have demonstrated that in vivo bioluminescence imaging can be utilized for assessment of intestinal expression patterns of a luciferase reporter gene driven by lactase promoter regions in transgenic mice.

13915*G DNA polymorphism associated with lactase persistence in Africa interacts with Oct-1.

Lactase gene expression declines with aging (lactase non-persistence) in the majority of humans worldwide. Lactase persistence is a heritable autosomal dominant condition and has been strongly correlated with several single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) located ~14-kb upstream (−13907, −13910 and −13915) of the lactase gene in different ethnic populations. In contrast to the −13907*G and −13910*T SNPs, the −13915*G SNP was previously believed not to interact with Oct-1. In the present study, however, Oct-1 is shown to interact with the −13915*G SNP region DNA sequence by EMSAs and gel supershift. In addition, Oct-1 is capable of enhancing promoter activity of a lactase promoter–reporter construct harboring the 13915*G SNP sequence in cell culture. Oct-1 binding to the −13907 to −13915 SNP region therefore remains a candidate interaction involved in lactase persistence.

Different Patterns of C3 and C4 Activation in the Varied Types of Juvenile Arthritis

ABSTRACT. Quantitative assays for C3 and C4 activation were carried out simultaneously on blood from children with varied types of juvenile arthritis. Factor VIII-related antigen was also measured as an indicator of vascular damage. In active systemic juvenile arthritis, the C4d/C4 ratio was frequently elevated and was usually associated with elevated C3d/C3 ratios and elevated concentrations of factor VIII-related antigen. Children with chronic polyarticular arthritis, no matter which forms of onset they had had, also had increased levels of the C4d/C4 ratio, C3d/C3 ratio, and factor VIII-related antigen, but these were less consistent and were not associated with each other. In contrast, in pauciarticular arthritis there was a uniquely isolated increase in the C3d/C3 ratio. This work implies that there are different mechanisms responsible for complement activation in the different types and at different stages of juvenile arthritis.