Input:
Decreased IL-12 production and Th1 cell development by acetyl salicylic acid-mediated inhibition of NF-kappaB.
IL-12 is a 75-kDa heterodimeric cytokine composed of two covalently linked p35 and p40 chains. This pro-inflammatory cytokine plays a prominent role in the development of Th1 cell-mediated immune responses. Th1 cell-mediated immune responses have been implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory autoimmune diseases. Thus, IL-12 appears to be a critical factor in the generation and maintenance of chronic inflammatory conditions. In this study, we investigated the effects of a commonly prescribed anti-inflammatory drug, acetyl salicylic acid (ASA), on IL-12 production and Th1 cell development. ASA was found to inhibit secretion of the IL-12 heterodimer as well as p40 monomer by human monocytic cells. This was associated with the down-regulation of IL-12p40 mRNA expression. Analysis of the regulation of the p40 gene promoter revealed that ASA inhibited NF-kappaB activation and binding to the p40-kappaB site in the p40 promoter, leading to transcriptional repression of the p40 gene. Addition of ASA to an in vitro T helper cell differentiation system, at concentrations compatible with plasma levels reached during anti-inflammatory therapy, resulted in reduced development of Th1 cells. These results suggest that the inhibition of NF-kappaB activation by ASA leads to down-regulation of IL-12 production and inhibition of Th1 cell development.

promoter

secretion

inhibit

secretion

down-regulation

mRNA expression

leading to transcriptional repression

regulation

promoter

mRNA expression

A generic non-protein physical entity used as an event site or location argument.

A gene or gene-product mention, represented by the GENIA Protein label.

Association of two or more biological participants.

The site on the theme where the event occurs; Site2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme3 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme4 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

Expression or production of a gene product.

Presence or movement of a biological participant at or to a location.

The location at which the event or its theme is situated.

The destination location to which a participant moves.

Regulation that decreases, suppresses, or prevents its theme.

The site on the cause that participates in a regulatory event.

The participant or event responsible for causing or regulating the event.

The site on the theme where the event occurs.

The primary participant or event affected by the event.

Addition of a phosphate group to a biological molecule.

Regulation that increases, promotes, or enables its theme.

Degradation or catabolic processing of a protein.

Regulation whose positive or negative direction is not specified.

Transcription of a gene or DNA template into RNA.


Input:
Membrane-associated lymphotoxin on natural killer cells activates endothelial cells via an NF-kappaB-dependent pathway.
BACKGROUND: Inhibition of complement in small animal models of xenotransplantation has demonstrated graft infiltration with natural killer (NK) cells and monocytes associated with endothelial cell (EC) activation. We have previously demonstrated that human NK cells activate porcine EC in vitro, which results in adhesion molecule expression and cytokine secretion. In this study, we used the NK cell line NK92 to define the molecular and cellular basis of NK cell-mediated EC activation. METHODS: EC were transfected with either reporter constructs containing the luciferase gene driven either by E-selectin or interleukin (IL)-8 promoters or a synthetic NF-kappaB-dependent promoter. In addition, a dominant-negative mutant tumor necrosis factor receptor I (TNFRI) expression vector was co-transfected in inhibition studies. Forty-eight hours after transfection, EC were stimulated with NK cells or NK cell membrane extracts for 7 hr and activation was measured by a luciferase assay. RESULTS: Co-culture of NK cells with transfected EC enhanced E-selectin, IL-8, and NF-kappaB-dependent promoter activity. NK cell membrane extracts retained the capacity to activate EC and induced nuclear translocation of NF-kappaB (p50 and p65). Western blotting of NK cell and membrane extracts detected the presence of Lymphotoxin-alpha (LTalpha) but not tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Furthermore, LTalpha was secreted in NK:EC co-cultures. Co-transfection with dominant-negative mutant TNFRI inhibited EC activation by NK cell membrane extracts and by NK cells by 80% and 47%, respectively. The same pattern of inhibition was observed using anti-human LT sera. CONCLUSIONS: Human NK cell membrane-bound LT signals across species via TNFRI, leading to NF-kappaB nuclear translocation and transcription of E-selectin and IL-8, which results in EC activation. The discrepancy in the degree of inhibition by membrane extracts and NK cells with mutant TNFRI suggests that additional pathways are utilized by NK cells to activate EC.

nuclear

E-selectin

interleukin (IL)-8

tumor necrosis factor receptor I

TNFRI

E-selectin

Lymphotoxin-alpha

LTalpha

tumor necrosis factor-alpha

LTalpha

TNFRI

TNFRI

E-selectin

TNFRI

co-transfected

tumor necrosis factor receptor I

presence

LTalpha

presence

tumor necrosis factor-alpha

Co-transfection

TNFRI

translocation

nuclear

translocation

nuclear

secreted

LTalpha

co-transfected

co-transfected

induced

translocation

Co-transfection

Co-transfection

leading

transcription

transcription

E-selectin

transcription

A generic non-protein physical entity used as an event site or location argument.

A gene or gene-product mention, represented by the GENIA Protein label.

Association of two or more biological participants.

The word or phrase that expresses the event.

The site on the theme where the event occurs; Site2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme3 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme4 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

Expression or production of a gene product.

Presence or movement of a biological participant at or to a location.

The location at which the event or its theme is situated.

The destination location to which a participant moves.

Regulation that decreases, suppresses, or prevents its theme.

The site on the cause that participates in a regulatory event.

The participant or event responsible for causing or regulating the event.

The site on the theme where the event occurs.

The primary participant or event affected by the event.

Addition of a phosphate group to a biological molecule.

Regulation that increases, promotes, or enables its theme.

Degradation or catabolic processing of a protein.

Regulation whose positive or negative direction is not specified.

Transcription of a gene or DNA template into RNA.


Input:
The involvement of multiple tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factors in the signaling mechanisms of receptor activator of NF-kappaB, a member of the TNFR superfamily.
Receptor activator of NF-kappaB (RANK) is a recently identified member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily and is expressed on activated T cells and dendritic cells. Its cognate ligand (RANKL) plays significant roles in the activation of dendritic cell function and osteoclast differentiation. We demonstrate here the interaction of RANK with tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6 both in vitro and in cells. Mapping of the structural requirements for TRAF/RANK interaction revealed multiple TRAF binding sites clustered in two distinct domains in the RANK cytoplasmic tail. These TRAF binding domains were shown to be functionally important for the RANK-dependent induction of NF-kappaB and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activities. Site-directed mutagenesis demonstrated that these TRAF binding sites exhibited selective binding for different TRAF proteins. In particular, TRAF6 interacted with membrane-proximal determinants distinct from those binding TRAFs 1, 2, 3, and 5. When this membrane-proximal TRAF6 interaction domain was deleted, RANK-mediated NF-kappaB signaling was completely inhibited while c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase activation was partially inhibited. An NH2-terminal truncation mutant of TRAF6 inhibited RANKL-mediated NF-kappaB activation, but failed to affect constitutive signaling induced by receptor overexpression, revealing a selective role for TRAF6 in ligand-induced activation events.

receptor activator of NF-kappaB

Receptor activator of NF-kappaB

RANK

RANKL

RANK

tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) 1

RANK

RANK

RANK

c-Jun

TRAFs 1

RANK

c-Jun

RANKL

interaction

RANK

tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factors (TRAFs) 1

interaction

RANK

interaction

RANK

interaction

RANK

interaction

RANK

interaction

RANK

interacted

binding

TRAFs 1

binding

binding

binding

expressed

RANK

A generic non-protein physical entity used as an event site or location argument.

A gene or gene-product mention, represented by the GENIA Protein label.

Association of two or more biological participants.

The site on the theme where the event occurs; Site2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme3 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme4 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

Expression or production of a gene product.

Presence or movement of a biological participant at or to a location.

The location at which the event or its theme is situated.

The destination location to which a participant moves.

Regulation that decreases, suppresses, or prevents its theme.

The site on the cause that participates in a regulatory event.

The participant or event responsible for causing or regulating the event.

The site on the theme where the event occurs.

The primary participant or event affected by the event.

Addition of a phosphate group to a biological molecule.

Regulation that increases, promotes, or enables its theme.

Degradation or catabolic processing of a protein.

Regulation whose positive or negative direction is not specified.

Transcription of a gene or DNA template into RNA.


Input:
Regulation of interleukin-1beta transcription by Epstein-Barr virus involves a number of latent proteins via their interaction with RBP.
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects B cells, resulting in the outgrowth of immortalised lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs). Here, we demonstrate through the use of intracellular staining that interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is expressed in LCLs and investigate the influence of the individual latent proteins on the expression of IL-1beta. Using RT-PCR, IL-1beta was shown to be up-regulated in EBV-transformed LCLs as well as in group III Burkitt's lymphoma (BL) cell lines, compared with group I BL cell lines. The up-regulation of IL-1beta message could be mediated by the latent membrane protein-1, EBV nuclear proteins 2, 3, 4, and 6 genes. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) demonstrated that the -300 region of the IL-1beta promoter, which contains a nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) binding site, contained a functional RBP binding site. Binding of RBP to this site could be inhibited by addition of EBV nuclear proteins 3 and 6, suggesting that these proteins displace RBP from its recognition sequence, removing transcriptional repression and allowing gene transcription to occur. In group I BL cells, containing low levels of NF-kappaB, only RBP binding was observed in EMSAs, whereas NF-kappaB binding could be demonstrated in EBV-transformed B cell lines containing high levels of activated NF-kappaB. In addition, the expression of latent membrane protein-1 led to activation of NF-kappaB that was capable of binding the IL-1beta promoter. The study demonstrates that EBV can up-regulate IL-1beta expression, possibly by using RBP, NF-kappaB, or both. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

promoter

latent membrane protein-1

EBV nuclear proteins 2

6 genes

EBV nuclear proteins 3

latent membrane protein-1

binding

promoter

expressed

expression

expression

latent membrane protein-1

expression

up-regulated

up-regulation

mediated

up-regulation

latent membrane protein-1

mediated

up-regulation

EBV nuclear proteins 2

mediated

up-regulation

mediated

up-regulation

mediated

up-regulation

6 genes

led

expression

activation

activation

binding

up-regulate

expression

Regulation

transcription

involves

Regulation

influence

expression

transcription

A generic non-protein physical entity used as an event site or location argument.

A gene or gene-product mention, represented by the GENIA Protein label.

Association of two or more biological participants.

The site on the theme where the event occurs; Site2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme3 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme4 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

Expression or production of a gene product.

Presence or movement of a biological participant at or to a location.

The location at which the event or its theme is situated.

The destination location to which a participant moves.

Regulation that decreases, suppresses, or prevents its theme.

The site on the cause that participates in a regulatory event.

The participant or event responsible for causing or regulating the event.

The site on the theme where the event occurs.

The primary participant or event affected by the event.

Addition of a phosphate group to a biological molecule.

Regulation that increases, promotes, or enables its theme.

Degradation or catabolic processing of a protein.

Regulation whose positive or negative direction is not specified.

Transcription of a gene or DNA template into RNA.


Input:
Characterization of the human elk-1 promoter. Potential role of a downstream intronic sequence for elk-1 gene expression in monocytes.
To characterize the human elk-1 promoter, we mapped the transcriptional start site and isolated elk-1-specific genomic phage clones that contained extensive upstream and downstream sequences. A TATA-like motif was identified immediately upstream of the transcriptional start site. Functional analyses of DNA fragments containing the TATA element and the identification of a DNase I-hypersensitive chromatin site (HS 1) in close proximity to the TATA box suggest that the identified TATA motif is important for elk-1 transcription in vivo. Sequences upstream and downstream from the TATA box were found to contribute to elk-1 promoter activity. A second hypersensitive site (HS 2) was identified within the first intron in pre-monocytic cells, which express Elk-1 only when differentiating to monocytes. In a variety of other cell types, which display a constitutive Elk-1 expression, HS 2 did not exist, suggesting that inducibility of elk-1 expression is associated with the presence of HS 2. Egr-1 and the serum response factor were found to interact specifically with the intronic sequence at +265 and +448, respectively. Because Egr-1 mRNA and protein levels were observed to increase significantly before induction of elk-1 expression, we propose that Egr-1 is important for the regulation of elk-1 transcription in differentiating monocytes.

promoter

serum response factor

interact

interact

serum response factor

gene expression

express

expression

expression

expression

contribute

promoter

inducibility

expression

increase

induction

expression

role

gene expression

important

transcription

transcription

transcription

A generic non-protein physical entity used as an event site or location argument.

A gene or gene-product mention, represented by the GENIA Protein label.

Association of two or more biological participants.

The site on the theme where the event occurs; Site2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme3 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme4 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

Expression or production of a gene product.

Presence or movement of a biological participant at or to a location.

The location at which the event or its theme is situated.

The destination location to which a participant moves.

Regulation that decreases, suppresses, or prevents its theme.

The site on the cause that participates in a regulatory event.

The participant or event responsible for causing or regulating the event.

The site on the theme where the event occurs.

The primary participant or event affected by the event.

Addition of a phosphate group to a biological molecule.

Regulation that increases, promotes, or enables its theme.

Degradation or catabolic processing of a protein.

Regulation whose positive or negative direction is not specified.

Transcription of a gene or DNA template into RNA.


Input:
Functional association of Nmi with Stat5 and Stat1 in IL-2- and IFNgamma-mediated signaling.
Using the coiled-coil region of Stat5b as the bait in a yeast two-hybrid screen, we identified the association of Nmi, a protein of unknown function previously reported as an N-Myc interactor. We further show that Nmi interacts with all STATs except Stat2. We evaluated two cytokine systems, IL-2 and IFNgamma, and demonstrate that Nmi augments STAT-mediated transcription in response to these cytokines. Interestingly, Nmi lacks an intrinsic transcriptional activation domain; instead, Nmi enhances the association of CBP/p300 coactivator proteins with Stat1 and Stat5, and together with CBP/p300 can augment IL-2- and IFNgamma-dependent transcription. Therefore, our data not only reveal that Nmi can potentiate STAT-dependent transcription, but also suggest that it can augment coactivator protein recruitment to at least some members of a group of sequence-specific transcription factors.

Nmi

IFNgamma

Nmi

N-Myc interactor

Nmi

IFNgamma

Nmi

Nmi

Nmi

IFNgamma

Nmi

association

Nmi

interacts

Nmi

association

enhances

Nmi

association

A generic non-protein physical entity used as an event site or location argument.

A gene or gene-product mention, represented by the GENIA Protein label.

Association of two or more biological participants.

The site on the theme where the event occurs; Site2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme2 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme3 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

The primary participant or event affected by the event; Theme4 distinguishes an additional filler of the same role.

Expression or production of a gene product.

Presence or movement of a biological participant at or to a location.

The location at which the event or its theme is situated.

The destination location to which a participant moves.

Regulation that decreases, suppresses, or prevents its theme.

The site on the cause that participates in a regulatory event.

The participant or event responsible for causing or regulating the event.

The site on the theme where the event occurs.

The primary participant or event affected by the event.

Addition of a phosphate group to a biological molecule.

Regulation that increases, promotes, or enables its theme.

Degradation or catabolic processing of a protein.

Regulation whose positive or negative direction is not specified.

Transcription of a gene or DNA template into RNA.