Genome-wide approaches reveal functional interleukin-4-inducible STAT6 binding to the vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 promoter

Mol Cell Biol. 2011 Jun;31(11):2196-209. doi: 10.1128/MCB.01430-10. Epub 2011 Apr 4.

Abstract

Endothelial cell activation and dysfunction underlie many vascular disorders, including atherosclerosis and inflammation. Here, we show that interleukin-4 (IL-4) markedly induced vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), both in cultured endothelial cells and in the intact endothelium in mice. Combined treatment with IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) resulted in further, sustained induction of VCAM-1 expression. IL-4-mediated induction of VCAM-1 and secondary monocyte adhesion was predominantly regulated by the transcription factor STAT6. Genome-wide survey of IL-4-mediated STAT6 binding from sequential chromatin-immunoprecipitation with deep sequencing (chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing [ChIP-seq]) in endothelial cells revealed regions of transient and sustained transcription factor binding. Through the combination of DNA microarrays and ChIP-seq at the same time points, the majority of IL-4-responsive genes were shown to be STAT6 dependent and associated with direct STAT6 binding to their promoter. IL-4-mediated stable binding of STAT6 led to sustained target gene expression. Moreover, our strategy led to the identification of a novel functionally important STAT6 binding site within 16 kb upstream of the VCAM-1 gene. Taken together, these findings support a critical role for STAT6 in mediating IL-4 signal transduction in endothelial cells. Identification of a novel IL-4-mediated VCAM-1 enhancer may provide a foundation for targeted therapy in vascular disease.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cell Adhesion
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism
  • Endothelium / metabolism
  • Gene Expression
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-4 / metabolism*
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Monocytes / metabolism
  • Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic*
  • Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid*
  • STAT6 Transcription Factor / metabolism*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Transcription, Genetic
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / metabolism
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / biosynthesis
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / genetics*
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / metabolism

Substances

  • STAT6 Transcription Factor
  • Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha
  • Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1
  • Interleukin-4