Synergistic activations of REG I α and REG I β promoters by IL-6 and Glucocorticoids through JAK/STAT pathway in human pancreatic β cells

J Diabetes Res. 2015:2015:173058. doi: 10.1155/2015/173058. Epub 2015 Feb 12.

Abstract

Reg (Regenerating gene) gene was originally isolated from rat regenerating islets and its encoding protein was revealed as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for β cells. Rat Reg gene is activated in inflammatory conditions for β cell regeneration. In human, although five functional REG family genes (REG Iα, REG Iβ, REG III, HIP/PAP, and REG IV) were isolated, their expressions in β cells under inflammatory conditions remained unclear. In this study, we found that combined addition of IL-6 and dexamethasone (Dx) induced REG Iα and REG Iβ expression in human 1.1B4 β cells. Promoter assay revealed that a signal transducer and activator of transcription- (STAT-) binding site in each promoter of REG Iα (TGCCGGGAA) and REG Iβ (TGCCAGGAA) was essential for the IL-6+Dx-induced promoter activation. A Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitor significantly inhibited the IL-6+Dx-induced REG Iα and REG Iβ transcription. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation revealed that IL-6+Dx stimulation increased STAT3 binding to the REG Iα promoter. Furthermore, small interfering RNA-mediated targeting of STAT3 blocked the IL-6+Dx-induced expression of REG Iα and REG Iβ. These results indicate that the expression of REG Iα and REG Iβ should be upregulated in human β cells under inflammatory conditions through the JAK/STAT pathway.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Line
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Gene Expression Regulation
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation
  • Insulin-Secreting Cells / metabolism*
  • Interleukin-6 / pharmacology*
  • Islets of Langerhans / cytology
  • Janus Kinase 1 / metabolism*
  • Lithostathine / genetics*
  • Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recombinant Proteins / metabolism
  • STAT Transcription Factors / metabolism*
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor / metabolism

Substances

  • Glucocorticoids
  • Interleukin-6
  • Lithostathine
  • Pancreatitis-Associated Proteins
  • REG1A protein, human
  • REG1B protein, human
  • REG3A protein, human
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Recombinant Proteins
  • STAT Transcription Factors
  • STAT3 Transcription Factor
  • STAT3 protein, human
  • JAK1 protein, human
  • Janus Kinase 1