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Title: The aryl hydrocarbon receptor and glucocorticoid receptor interact to activate human metallothionein 2A

Abstract

Although the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) play essential roles in mammalian development, stress responses, and other physiological events, crosstalk between these receptors has been the subject of much debate. Metallothioneins are classic glucocorticoid-inducible genes that were reported to increase upon treatment with AHR agonists in rodent tissues and cultured human cells. In this study, the mechanism of human metallothionein 2A (MT2A) gene transcription activation by AHR was investigated. Cotreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene and dexamethasone, agonists of AHR and GR respectively, synergistically increased MT2A mRNA levels in HepG2 cells. MT2A induction was suppressed by RNA interference against AHR or GR. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed a physical interaction between AHR and GR proteins. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that AHR was recruited to the glucocorticoid response element in the MT2A promoter. Thus, we provide a novel mechanism whereby AHR modulates expression of human MT2A via the glucocorticoid response element and protein–protein interactions with GR. - Highlights: • Aryl hydrocarbon receptor forms a complex with glucocorticoid receptor in cells. • Human metallothionein gene is regulated by the AHR and GR interaction. • AHR–GR complex binds to glucocorticoid response element in metallothionein gene. • We demonstrated a novel transcriptional mechanism via AHRmore » and GR interaction.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [1];  [2];  [3];  [1]
  1. Laboratory of Nutrition, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 981-8555 (Japan)
  2. Division of Molecular Pharmacology, Department of Pathophysiological and Therapeutic Science, Yonago 683-8503 (Japan)
  3. Department of Medical Safety Science, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Science, Nagoya City University, Nagoya 267-8603 (Japan)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
22285491
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 273; Journal Issue: 1; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2013 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); Journal ID: ISSN 0041-008X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES; 3-METHYLCHOLANTHRENE; AMINO ACIDS; ANIMAL TISSUES; CHROMATIN; DEXAMETHASONE; GENES; MESSENGER-RNA; METALLOTHIONEIN; RECEPTORS; RODENTS

Citation Formats

Sato, Shoko, Shirakawa, Hitoshi, Tomita, Shuhei, Tohkin, Masahiro, Gonzalez, Frank J., E-mail: gonzalef@mail.nih.gov, and Komai, Michio. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor and glucocorticoid receptor interact to activate human metallothionein 2A. United States: N. p., 2013. Web. doi:10.1016/J.TAAP.2013.08.017.
Sato, Shoko, Shirakawa, Hitoshi, Tomita, Shuhei, Tohkin, Masahiro, Gonzalez, Frank J., E-mail: gonzalef@mail.nih.gov, & Komai, Michio. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor and glucocorticoid receptor interact to activate human metallothionein 2A. United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TAAP.2013.08.017
Sato, Shoko, Shirakawa, Hitoshi, Tomita, Shuhei, Tohkin, Masahiro, Gonzalez, Frank J., E-mail: gonzalef@mail.nih.gov, and Komai, Michio. 2013. "The aryl hydrocarbon receptor and glucocorticoid receptor interact to activate human metallothionein 2A". United States. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.TAAP.2013.08.017.
@article{osti_22285491,
title = {The aryl hydrocarbon receptor and glucocorticoid receptor interact to activate human metallothionein 2A},
author = {Sato, Shoko and Shirakawa, Hitoshi and Tomita, Shuhei and Tohkin, Masahiro and Gonzalez, Frank J., E-mail: gonzalef@mail.nih.gov and Komai, Michio},
abstractNote = {Although the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and glucocorticoid receptor (GR) play essential roles in mammalian development, stress responses, and other physiological events, crosstalk between these receptors has been the subject of much debate. Metallothioneins are classic glucocorticoid-inducible genes that were reported to increase upon treatment with AHR agonists in rodent tissues and cultured human cells. In this study, the mechanism of human metallothionein 2A (MT2A) gene transcription activation by AHR was investigated. Cotreatment with 3-methylcholanthrene and dexamethasone, agonists of AHR and GR respectively, synergistically increased MT2A mRNA levels in HepG2 cells. MT2A induction was suppressed by RNA interference against AHR or GR. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments revealed a physical interaction between AHR and GR proteins. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays indicated that AHR was recruited to the glucocorticoid response element in the MT2A promoter. Thus, we provide a novel mechanism whereby AHR modulates expression of human MT2A via the glucocorticoid response element and protein–protein interactions with GR. - Highlights: • Aryl hydrocarbon receptor forms a complex with glucocorticoid receptor in cells. • Human metallothionein gene is regulated by the AHR and GR interaction. • AHR–GR complex binds to glucocorticoid response element in metallothionein gene. • We demonstrated a novel transcriptional mechanism via AHR and GR interaction.},
doi = {10.1016/J.TAAP.2013.08.017},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/22285491}, journal = {Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology},
issn = {0041-008X},
number = 1,
volume = 273,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2013},
month = {Fri Nov 15 00:00:00 EST 2013}
}