Gene Regulation System of Vasopressin and Corticotoropin-Releasing Hormone

Abstract

Abstract:The neurohypophyseal hormones, arginine vasopressin and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), play a crucial role in the physiological and behavioral response to various kinds of stresses. Both neuropeptides activate the hypophysialpituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, which is a central mediator of the stress response in the body. Conversely, they receive the negative regulation by glucocorticoid, which is an end product of the HPA axis. Vasopressin and CRH are closely linked to immune response; they also interact with pro-infl ammatory cytokines. Moreover, as for vasopressin, it has another important role, which is the regulation of water balance through its potent antidiuretic effect. Hence, it is conceivable that vasopressin and CRH mediate the homeostatic responses for survival and protect organisms from the external world. A tight and elaborate regulation system of the vasopressin and CRH gene is required for the rapid and fl exible response to the alteration of the surrounding environments. Several important regulatory elements have been identifi ed in the proximal promoter region in the vasopressin and CRH gene. Many transcription factors and intracellular signaling cascades are involved in the complicated gene regulation system. This review focuses on the current status of the basic research of vasopressin and CRH. In addition to the numerous known facts about their divergent physiological roles, the recent topics of promoter analyses will be discussed.

Transcription factor CREB3L1 mediates cAMP and glucocorticoid regulation of arginine vasopressin gene transcription in the rat hypothalamus

“…However, the promoters of many genes that are negatively regulated by glucocorticoids do not contain GRE sites, suggesting that the regulatory mechanisms of glucocorticoids are not only mediated by direct binding of glucocorticoid receptor to a GRE. The interaction of glucocorticoid receptor with transcription factors or co-factors is also believed to be a regulatory mechanism of glucocorticoids [ 40 ]. Here we show that DEX treatment inhibits both basal and FSK-stimulated Creb3l1 expression in AtT20 cells.…”

“…In the long history of the characterisation of the regulatory mechanisms controlling expression of Avp , it has become accepted that the cAMP/PKA pathway is a major positive regulator for Avp transcription, whilst glucocorticoids have an inhibitory effect, but the molecular pathways mediating these effects have remained largely elusive [ 40 ]. Here, we provide evidence that Creb3l1 is regulated by cAMP and glucocorticoids, and that this transcription factor may mediate the effects of these signaling pathways on Avp expression.…”

Neuroanatomical and functional characterization of CRF neurons of the amygdala using a novel transgenic mouse model

“…The exact reasons for the limited hrGFP expression in the PVN are unclear, but might include chromosomal insertion site-related effects, failure of insertion of the entire BAC, unintended effects of removing the CRF coding sequence from the transgene, and/or lack of critical elements in the BAC necessaries for PVN gene expression (Gama Sosa et al, 2010; Matthaei, 2007). Regarding the last possibility, it is well known that different elements of the promoters can direct expression of the CRF gene in a brain nucleus-specific manner (Kageyama and Suda, 2009; Yoshida, 2008). Despite these considerations, which are known concerns for all transgenic mouse models, the CRF-hrGFP mouse described here appears as a useful tool for studying the role of CRF neurons within the amygdala.…”

Synaptic innervation to rat hippocampus by vasopressin-immuno-positive fibres from the hypothalamic supraoptic and paraventricular nuclei

“…With this measure a more homogenous AVP immunoreaction (IR) was achieved among the subjects for the AVP-immuno-positive fibre-density analysis. It is worth mentioning that the osmotic stimuli increase Fos proteins mRNAs, which mediate the rapid transcriptional induction of the vasopressin gene (Yoshida, 2008).…”