Adenomatous polyposis coli protein associates with C/EBP beta and increases Bacillus anthracis edema toxin-stimulated gene expression in macrophages

J Biol Chem. 2011 Jun 3;286(22):19364-72. doi: 10.1074/jbc.M111.224543. Epub 2011 Apr 12.

Abstract

The production of cAMP from Bacillus anthracis edema toxin (ET) activates gene expression in macrophages through a complex array of signaling pathways, most of which remain poorly defined. In this study, the tumor suppressor protein adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) was found to be important for the up-regulation of previously defined ET-stimulated genes (Vegfa, Ptgs2, Arg2, Cxcl2, Sdc1, and Cebpb). A reduction in the expression of these genes after ET exposure was observed when APC was disrupted in macrophages using siRNA or in bone marrow-derived macrophages obtained from C57BL/6J-Apc(Min) mice, which are heterozygous for a truncated form of APC. In line with this observation, ET increased the expression of APC at the transcriptional level, leading to increased amounts of APC in the nucleus. The mechanism utilized by APC to increase ET-induced gene expression was determined to depend on the ability of APC to interact with C/EBP β, which is a transcription factor activated by cAMP. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments found that APC associated with C/EBP β and that levels of this complex increase after ET exposure. A further connection was uncovered when silencing APC was determined to reduce the ET-induced phosphorylation of C/EBP β at Thr-188. This ET-mediated phosphorylation of C/EBP β was blocked by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3) inhibitors, suggesting that GSK-3 is involved in the activation of C/EBP β and supporting the idea of APC helping direct interactions between GSK-3 and C/EBP β. These results indicate that ET stimulates gene expression by promoting the formation of an inducible protein complex consisting of APC and C/EBP β.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / genetics
  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein / metabolism*
  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism
  • Antigens, Bacterial / pharmacology*
  • Bacillus anthracis*
  • Bacterial Toxins / metabolism
  • Bacterial Toxins / pharmacology*
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / genetics
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta / metabolism*
  • Cell Line
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects*
  • Gene Silencing
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism
  • Macrophages / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Multiprotein Complexes / genetics
  • Multiprotein Complexes / metabolism*

Substances

  • Adenomatous Polyposis Coli Protein
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • CCAAT-Enhancer-Binding Protein-beta
  • Multiprotein Complexes
  • anthrax toxin
  • Cyclic AMP
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3