Egr-1 inhibits apoptosis during the UV response: correlation of cell survival with Egr-1 phosphorylation

Cell Death Differ. 1998 Jan;5(1):96-106. doi: 10.1038/sj.cdd.4400322.

Abstract

UV irradiation of normal or immortalized cells induces a rapid increase in the expression of several transcription factors and is thought to serve a protective function. The human fibrosarcoma cell line, HT1080 clone H4, expresses almost undetectable levels of Egr-1 and does not respond to UV-C irradiation by the induction of Egr-1. The H4 cells are hypersensitive to UV which induces apoptosis and reduces clonogenicity. The introduction of exogenous Egr-1 into H4 (H4E9 and H4E4 cell-lines) confers protection from UV damage as measured by a number of assays. In both NIH3T3 (with inducible Egr-1) and H4E9 (constitutive Egr-1) cells, UV irradiation gave enhanced transactivation of Egr-1 reporters that correlated with phosphorylated Egr-1. Studies using inhibitors indicated that protein kinase-C and tyrosine kinases are involved in the anti-apoptotic effects of Egr-1 after UV damage. This is the first description of a biological effect of phosphorylated Egr-1.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • 3T3 Cells / chemistry
  • 3T3 Cells / cytology
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / physiology*
  • Apoptosis / radiation effects*
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Cell Survival / radiation effects
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase / genetics
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / genetics*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1
  • Fibrosarcoma
  • G2 Phase / physiology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic
  • Humans
  • Immediate-Early Proteins*
  • Mice
  • Phosphorylation
  • Protein Kinase C / metabolism
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases / metabolism
  • S Phase / physiology
  • Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Transcriptional Activation / physiology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / chemistry
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / cytology
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured / enzymology
  • Ultraviolet Rays
  • Zinc Fingers / physiology*

Substances

  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • EGR1 protein, human
  • Early Growth Response Protein 1
  • Egr1 protein, mouse
  • Immediate-Early Proteins
  • Transcription Factors
  • Choline O-Acetyltransferase
  • Protein-Tyrosine Kinases
  • Protein Kinase C