NFATc is required for TGFß-mediated transcriptional regulation of fibronectin

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2007

Abstract

Calcineurin is an important regulator of extracellular matrix (ECM) accumulation in the kidney but functions in a cell-specific manner. Previously, we identified a novel role for calcineurin in mesangial cells where calcineurin activity is required for TGFß-mediated induction of fibronectin expression. In this study, we examined the role of the calcineurin substrate NFATc in transcriptional regulation of fibronectin. First, inhibition of calcineurin blocks TGFß induction of the fibronectin promoter. Moreover, expression of constitutively active calcineurin in mesangial cells is sufficient to increase fibronectin transcription. Next, inhibition of the calcineurin substrate NFATc1 blocked TGFß-mediated activation of the fibronectin promoter. Finally, stable expression of a dominant-negative NFATc protein reduced transcriptional activation of the promoter and inhibited TGFß-mediated fibronectin expression. In conclusion, TGFß activation of calcineurin in mesangial cells results in regulation of ECM accumulation at least in part by direct transcriptional activity of NFATc on the fibronectin promoter.

Publication Title

Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Volume

362

Issue

2

First Page

288

Last Page

294

Comments

This article was published in Biochemical and biophysical research communications, Volume 362, Issue 2, Pages 288-294.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bbrc.2007.07.186.

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier.

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