Transactivation of RARE and GRE in the cellular response to arsenic

Huang, CS Li, JX Ding, M Costa, M Castranova, V Vallyathan, V Ju, G Shi, XL

Cs. Huang et al., Transactivation of RARE and GRE in the cellular response to arsenic, MOL C BIOCH, 222(1-2), 2001, pp. 119-125

44

INGLESE

Article

Cell & Developmental Biology

MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY

0300-8177 → ACNP

222

1-2

2001

119 - 125

ISI

0300-8177(200106)222:1-2<119:TORAGI>2.0.ZU;2-K

Arsenic compounds are a somewhat unique class of metals, which have been co nsidered as both carcinogens and chemotherapeutic agents for cancers. Tumor promotion effects of arsenic are believed to be associated with its transa ctivational activities on transcription factors, such as AP-1 and NF kappaB , while the induction of cell apoptosis and differentiation by arsenic is c onsidered to be a mechanism for the chemotherapeutic effects of arsenic. He re, we found that exposure of cells to arsenite and arsenate leads to trans activation of retinoic acid response elements (RARE) and glucocorticoid res ponse elements (GRE) in mouse epidermal JB6 cells. These inductions occur i n a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, induction of RARE activity by arsen ic was synergistically enhanced by co-treatment of cells with retinoic acid , while GRE activation by arsenic was not affected by combined treatment of cells with fluocinolone acetonide (FA). In consideration of the important role of RARE and GRE in induction of cell differentiation, we speculate tha t transactivation of RARE and GRE by arsenic may be involved in its inducti on of cell differentiation and anti-cancer activities in addition to its in duction of apoptosis.