STAT1 Interacts with RXR[alpha] to Upregulate ApoCII Gene Expression in Macrophages

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 7; no. 7; p. e40463
• Main Authors: Trusca, Violeta G, Florea, Irina C, Kardassis, Dimitris, Gafencu, Anca V
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science 12.07.2012
• Subjects: Apolipoproteins; Chromatin; DNA binding proteins; Gene expression; Lipoprotein lipase; Macrophages; Triglycerides
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040463

Apolipoprotein CII (apoCII) is a specific activator of lipoprotein lipase and plays an important role in triglyceride metabolism. The aim of our work was to elucidate the regulatory mechanisms involved in apoCII gene modulation in macrophages. Using Chromosome Conformation Capture we demonstrated that multienhancer 2 (ME.2) physically interacts with the apoCII promoter and this interaction facilitates the transcriptional enhancement of the apoCII promoter by the transcription factors bound on ME.2. We revealed that the transcription factor STAT1, previously shown to bind to its specific site on ME.2, is functional for apoCII gene upregulation. We found that siRNA-mediated inhibition of STAT1 gene expression significantly decreased the apoCII levels, while STAT1 overexpression in RAW 264.7 macrophages increased apoCII gene expression. Using transient transfections, DNA pull down and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays, we revealed a novel STAT1 binding site in the -500/-493 region of the apoCII promoter, which mediates apoCII promoter upregulation by STAT1. Interestingly, STAT1 could not exert its upregulatory effect when the RXR[alpha]/T3R[beta] binding site located on the apoCII promoter was mutated, suggesting physical and functional interactions between these factors. Using GST pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays, we demonstrated that STAT1 physically interacts with RXR[alpha]. Taken together, these data revealed that STAT1 bound on ME.2 cooperates with RXR[alpha] located on apoCII promoter and upregulates apoCII expression only in macrophages, due to the specificity of the long-range interactions between the proximal and distal regulatory elements. Moreover, we showed for the first time that STAT1 and RXR[alpha] physically interact to exert their regulatory function.