Takamasa Ichijo

Noncoding RNA Gas5 Is a Growth Arrest– and Starvation-Associated Repressor of the Glucocorticoid Receptor

Gas5 is a noncoding RNA that acts as a decoy glucocorticoid response element to inhibit glucocorticoid-mediated transcription. Noncoding RNA Decoys Steroid receptors are transcription factors that are activated by ligand binding, which allows these proteins to bind specific sequences called “response elements” in the promoters of target genes to stimulate transcription. Now, Kino et al. find that a noncoding RNA can also interact with steroid receptors and inhibit their binding to the DNA response elements, thereby repressing steroid receptor activity. The authors found that the noncoding RNA growth arrest–specific 5 (Gas5), which accumulates in cells that have been deprived of nutrients or growth factors, bound to the glucocorticoid receptor and competed with DNA glucocorticoid response elements for binding to the receptor, thereby inhibiting glucocorticoid-mediated transcription. This sensitized cells to undergo apoptosis in response to stress by preventing the glucocorticoid-mediated transcription of antiapoptotic genes. Gas5 also interacted with other steroid receptors and inhibited their transcriptional activity, suggesting that decoy RNA response elements may be a common mechanism for regulating transcription factor activity. The availability of nutrients influences cellular growth and survival by affecting gene transcription. Glucocorticoids also influence gene transcription and have diverse activities on cell growth, energy expenditure, and survival. We found that the growth arrest–specific 5 (Gas5) noncoding RNA, which is abundant in cells whose growth has been arrested because of lack of nutrients or growth factors, sensitized cells to apoptosis by suppressing glucocorticoid-mediated induction of several responsive genes, including the one encoding cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 2. Gas5 bound to the DNA-binding domain of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) by acting as a decoy glucocorticoid response element (GRE), thus competing with DNA GREs for binding to the GR. We conclude that Gas5 is a “riborepressor” of the GR, influencing cell survival and metabolic activities during starvation by modulating the transcriptional activity of the GR.

Generalized Glucocorticoid Resistance: Clinical Aspects, Molecular Mechanisms, and Implications of a Rare Genetic Disorder

CONTEXT Primary generalized glucocorticoid resistance is a rare genetic condition characterized by generalized, partial, target-tissue insensitivity to glucocorticoids. We review the clinical aspects, molecular mechanisms, and implications of this disorder. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION We conducted a systematic review of the published, peer-reviewed medical literature using MEDLINE (1975 through February 2008) to identify original articles and reviews on this topic. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS We have relied on the experience of a number of experts in the field, including our extensive personal experience. CONCLUSIONS The clinical spectrum of primary generalized glucocorticoid resistance is broad, ranging from asymptomatic to severe cases of hyperandrogenism, fatigue, and/or mineralocorticoid excess. The molecular basis of the condition has been ascribed to mutations in the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) gene, which impair glucocorticoid signal transduction and reduce tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids. A consequent increase in the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis compensates for the reduced sensitivity of peripheral tissues to glucocorticoids at the expense of ACTH hypersecretion-related pathology. The study of functional defects of natural hGR mutants enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of hGR action and highlights the importance of integrated cellular and molecular signaling mechanisms for maintaining homeostasis and preserving normal physiology.

G protein β interacts with the glucocorticoid receptor and suppresses its transcriptional activity in the nucleus

Extracellular stimuli that activate cell surface receptors modulate glucocorticoid actions via as yet unclear mechanisms. Here, we report that the guanine nucleotide-binding protein (G protein)–coupled receptor-activated WD-repeat Gβ interacts with the glucocorticoid receptor (GR), comigrates with it into the nucleus and suppresses GR-induced transactivation of the glucocorticoid-responsive genes. Association of Gγ with Gβ is necessary for this action of Gβ. Both endogenous and enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)–fused Gβ2 and Gγ2 proteins were detected in the nucleus at baseline, whereas a fraction of EGFP-Gβ2 and DsRed2-GR comigrated to the nucleus or the plasma membrane, depending on the exposure of cells to dexamethasone or somatostatin, respectively. Gβ2 was associated with GR/glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) in vivo and suppressed activation function-2–directed transcriptional activity of the GR. We conclude that the Gβγ complex interacts with the GR and suppresses its transcriptional activity by associating with the transcriptional complex formed on GR-responsive promoters.

The SMAD6/histone deacetylase 3 complex silences the transcriptional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor: Potential clinical implications

Glucocorticoids play pivotal roles in the maintenance of homeostasis but, when dysregulated, may also have deleterious effects. Smad6, one of the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family downstream transcription factors, interacts with the N-terminal domain of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) through its Mad homology 2 domain and suppresses GR-mediated transcriptional activity in vitro. Adenovirus-mediated Smad6 overexpression inhibits glucocorticoid action in rat liver in vivo, preventing dexamethasone-induced elevation of blood glucose levels and hepatic mRNA expression of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, a well known rate-limiting enzyme of liver gluconeogenesis. Smad6 suppresses GR-induced transactivation by attracting histone deacetylase 3 to DNA-bound GR and by antagonizing acetylation of histone H3 and H4 induced by p160 histone acetyltransferase. These results indicate that Smad6 regulates glucocorticoid actions as a corepressor of the GR. From our results and known cross-talks between glucocorticoids and TGFβ family molecules, it appears that the anti-glucocorticoid actions of Smad6 may contribute to the neuroprotective, anticatabolic and pro-wound healing properties of the TGFβ family of proteins.

A Novel Point Mutation in the Amino Terminal Domain of the Human Glucocorticoid Receptor (hGR) Gene Enhancing hGR-Mediated Gene Expression

CONTEXT Interindividual variations in glucocorticoid sensitivity have been associated with manifestations of cortisol excess or deficiency and may be partly explained by polymorphisms in the human glucocorticoid receptor (hGR) gene. We studied a 43-yr-old female, who presented with manifestations consistent with tissue-selective glucocorticoid hypersensitivity. We detected a novel, single, heterozygous nucleotide (G --> C) substitution at position 1201 (exon 2) of the hGR gene, which resulted in aspartic acid to histidine substitution at amino acid position 401 in the amino-terminal domain of the hGRalpha. We investigated the molecular mechanisms of action of the natural mutant receptor hGRalphaD401H. METHODS-RESULTS Compared with the wild-type hGRalpha, the mutant receptor hGRalphaD401H demonstrated a 2.4-fold increase in its ability to transactivate the glucocorticoid-inducible mouse mammary tumor virus promoter in response to dexamethasone but had similar affinity for the ligand (dissociation constant = 6.2 +/- 0.6 vs. 6.1 +/- 0.6 nm) and time to nuclear translocation (14.75 +/- 0.25 vs. 14.25 +/- 1.13 min). The mutant receptor hGRalphaD401H did not exert a dominant positive or negative effect upon the wild-type receptor, it preserved its ability to bind to glucocorticoid response elements, and displayed a normal interaction with the glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein 1 coactivator. CONCLUSIONS The mutant receptor hGRalphaD401H enhances the transcriptional activity of glucocorticoid-responsive genes. The presence of the D401H mutation may predispose subjects to obesity, hypertension, and other manifestations of the metabolic syndrome.

Rho Family Guanine Nucleotide Exchange Factor Brx Couples Extracellular Signals to the Glucocorticoid Signaling System

Glucocorticoids regulate many crucial biologic functions through their cytoplasmic/nuclear glucocorticoid receptors (GR). Excess, deficiency, or alteration in tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids has been associated with major causes of human morbidity and mortality. Brx, a cytoplasmic Rho family guanine nucleotide exchange factor, binds to and influences the activity of several nuclear hormone receptors. We examined the functional and molecular interactions between GR and Brx. The glucocorticoid sensitivity of lymphocytes obtained from mice haplo-insufficient for Brx was significantly decreased. Conversely, GR-mediated transcriptional activity of a glucocorticoid response element (GRE)-mediated glucocorticoid-responsive promoter was enhanced by Brx in a guanine nucleotide exchange factor domain-dependent fashion. Brx interacted with GR, forming a ternary complex with RhoA. In a chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, Brx and RhoA were co-precipitated with GREs only in the presence of ligand-activated GR. Extracellularly administered lysophosphatidic acid, which activates its signaling cascade through a specific membrane GTP-binding protein (G-protein)-coupled receptor in a G-protein α13-, Brx-, and RhoA-dependent fashion, enhanced GR transcriptional activity, whereas depletion of endogenous Brx attenuated this effect. These findings suggest that glucocorticoid signaling and, hence, the tissue sensitivity to glucocorticoids, may be coupled to extracellular signals via Brx and small G-proteins. Nuclear Brx might act as a local GRE-GR-transcriptosome activator by mediating the effect of small G-proteins on glucocorticoid-regulated genes.

FLASH interacts with p160 coactivator subtypes and differentially suppresses transcriptional activity of steroid hormone receptors.

We previously reported that tumor necrosis factor alpha receptor- and Fas-associated FLASH interacts with one of the p160 nuclear receptor coactivators, glucocorticoid receptor-interacting protein (GRIP) 1, at its nuclear receptor-binding (NRB) domain, and that inhibits the transcriptional activity of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) by interfering with association of GR and GRIP1. Here, we further examined the specificity of FLASH suppressive effect and the physical/functional interactions between this protein and two other p160 family subtypes. The suppressive effect of FLASH on GR transactivation was observed in several cell lines and on the chromatin-integrated mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV) promoter. FLASH strongly interacted with the NRB domain of the thyroid hormone receptor activator molecule (TRAM) 1, a member of the steroid hormone receptor coactivator (SRC) 3/nuclear receptor coactivator (N-CoA) 3 subtypes, as well as with SRC2/N-CoA2 p160 coactivator GRIP1, while its interaction with SRC1a, one of the SRC1/N-CoA1 proteins, was faint in yeast two-hybrid assays. Accordingly, FLASH strongly suppressed TRAM1- and GRIP1-induced enhancement of GR-stimulated transactivation of the MMTV promoter in HCT116 cells, while it did not affect SRC1a-induced potentiation of transcription. Furthermore, FLASH suppressed androgen- and progesterone receptor-induced transcriptional activity, but did not influence estrogen receptor-induced transactivation, possibly due to their preferential use of p160 coactivators in HCT116 and HeLa cells. Thus, FLASH differentially suppresses steroid hormone receptor-induced transcriptional activity by interfering with their association with SRC2/N-CoA2 and SRC3/N-CoA3 but not with SRC1/N-CoA1.

Activated glucocorticoid receptor interacts with the INHAT component Set/TAF-Iβ and releases it from a glucocorticoid-responsive gene promoter, relieving repression: Implications for the pathogenesis of glucocorticoid resistance in acute undifferentiated leukemia with Set-Can translocation

Set/template-activating factor (TAF)-Ibeta, part of the Set-Can oncogene product found in acute undifferentiated leukemia, is a component of the inhibitor of acetyltransferases (INHAT) complex. Set/TAF-Ibeta interacted with the DNA-binding domain of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in yeast two-hybrid screening, and repressed GR-induced transcriptional activity of a chromatin-integrated glucocorticoid-responsive and a natural promoter. Set/TAF-Ibeta was co-precipitated with glucocorticoid response elements (GREs) of these promoters in the absence of dexamethasone, while addition of the hormone caused dissociation of Set/TAF-Ibeta from and attraction of the p160-type coactivator GRIP1 to the promoter GREs. Set-Can fusion protein, on the other hand, did not interact with GR, was constitutively co-precipitated with GREs and suppressed GRIP1-induced enhancement of GR transcriptional activity and histone acetylation. Thus, Set/TAF-Ibeta acts as a ligand-activated GR-responsive transcriptional repressor, while Set-Can does not retain physiologic responsiveness to ligand-bound GR, possibly contributing to the poor responsiveness of Set-Can-harboring leukemic cells to glucocorticoids.