Glycogen synthase kinase-3β is involved in ligand-dependent activation of transcription and cellular localization of the glucocorticoid receptor

Mol Endocrinol. 2012 Sep;26(9):1508-20. doi: 10.1210/me.2011-1366. Epub 2012 Jul 6.

Abstract

Glucocorticoids (GC) induce cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in different cell types and therefore are widely used to treat a variety of diseases including autoimmune disorders and cancer. This effect is mediated by the GC receptor (GR), a ligand-activated transcription factor that translocates into the nucleus where it modulates transcription of target genes in a promoter-specific manner. Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3) regulates GR response by genomic and nongenomic mechanisms, although the specific role of each isoform is not well defined. We used GSK3 pharmacological inhibitors and isoform-specific small interfering RNA to evaluate the role of GSK3 in the genomic regulation induced by GC. GSK3 inhibition resulted in the reduction of GC-induced mRNA expression of GC-induced genes such as BIM, HIAP1, and GILZ. Knockdown of GSK3β but not GSK3α reduced endogenous GILZ induction in response to dexamethasone and GR-dependent reporter gene activity. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that GSK3 inhibition impaired the dexamethasone-mediated binding of GR and RNA polymerase II to endogenous GILZ promoter. These results indicate that GSK3β is important for GR transactivation activity and that GSK3β inhibition suppresses GC-stimulated gene expression. Furthermore, we show that genomic regulation by the GR is independent of known GSK3β phosphorylation sites. We propose that GC-dependent transcriptional activation requires functional GSK3β signaling and that altered GSK3β activity influences cell response to GC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Apoptosis / genetics
  • Apoptosis / physiology
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Survival / genetics
  • Cell Survival / physiology
  • Chromatin Immunoprecipitation
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Flow Cytometry
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / genetics
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 / metabolism*
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Humans
  • Indoles / pharmacology
  • Maleimides / pharmacology
  • Microscopy, Confocal
  • Protein Binding
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / genetics*
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / metabolism*
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Transcription, Genetic / genetics*
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Indoles
  • Maleimides
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid
  • SB 216763
  • GSK3B protein, human
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 beta
  • Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3