C. Weigert et al., Overexpression of glutamine : fructose-6-phosphate-amidotransferase induces transforming growth factor-beta 1 synthesis in NIH-3T3 fibroblasts, FEBS LETTER, 488(1-2), 2001, pp. 95-99
Increased flux through the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway with glutamine:f
ructose-6-phosphate-amidotransferase (GFAT) as rate-limiting enzyme has bee
n linked to the enhanced bioactivity of the prosclerotic cytokine transform
ing growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1) in fibrotic complications, particularly
in diabetic kidney disease. Here, we investigate in a stable transfection
system the effect of overexpression of GFAT on TGF-beta1 synthesis in NIH-3
T3 fibroblasts. We demonstrate a 1.8-fold stimulation of TGF-beta1 mRNA and
a 1.9-fold increased protein expression, whereas TGF-beta2 production was
not upregulated. The 1.5-fold enhanced TGF-beta1 promoter activity suggests
a transcriptional regulation, The elevated TGF-beta1 protein is biological
ly active since GFAT-overexpressing cells exhibit a 2-fold fibronectin prod
uction. The results indicate a GFAT-dependent induction of TGF-beta1 synthe
sis. (C) 2001 Federation of European Biochemical Societies. Published by El
sevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.