Nuclear forkhead box O1 controls and integrates key signaling pathways in hepatocytes

Endocrinology. 2007 May;148(5):2424-34. doi: 10.1210/en.2006-1411. Epub 2007 Feb 15.

Abstract

Insulin inhibits forkhead O class (FoxO) transcription factors, which down-regulate the expression of genes involved in metabolism, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. After being phosphorylated by protein kinase B (PKB) on S253 in its DNA-binding domain, Foxo1 is phosphorylated on T24 and additional sites, which overall triggers its nuclear exclusion. During this process, Foxo1 is thought to retain some transcriptional activity and signaling potential. To evaluate this Foxo1 action, we used a Foxo1-ADA mutant that is constitutively nuclear due to mutation of T24 and S316 to A and harbors a mutation of S253 to D. Adenoviral-mediated expression of Foxo1-ADA in hepatocytes activates PKB and MAPK pathways more than expression of wild-type or of a transactivation domain-deleted mutant (Delta256). PKB activation cannot be accounted for by a Foxo1-mediated increase in upstream signaling components such as insulin receptor substrate 1 or 2 or by Foxo1-mediated down-regulation of Tribbles homolog 3. In contrast, Foxo1-ADA increases p38 activity, and p38 is required for effects of Foxo1 on PKB, at least in part. We propose that Foxo1 turns on a feed-forward loop, relayed by p38 and acting to amplify both PKB activation and Foxo1 inhibition. To conclude, key signaling pathways are activated in hepatocytes through nuclear Foxo1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Line, Transformed
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases / metabolism
  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • Glycogen / metabolism
  • Hepatocytes / metabolism*
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Mutagenesis
  • Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / metabolism
  • Phosphoproteins / genetics
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / metabolism
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism

Substances

  • Forkhead Box Protein O1
  • Forkhead Transcription Factors
  • Foxo1 protein, mouse
  • Insulin Receptor Substrate Proteins
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • Irs2 protein, mouse
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Glycogen
  • Protein Kinases
  • mTOR protein, mouse
  • Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt
  • TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases
  • Extracellular Signal-Regulated MAP Kinases
  • JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
  • p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases