Identification of NF-kappaB responsive elements in follistatin related gene (FLRG) promoter

Follistatin related gene (FLRG) has been previously identified from a chromosomal translocation observed in a B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). FLRG (alternative names: follistatin-related protein, FSRP/follistatin-like-3, FSTL3) is a secreted glycoprotein highly similar to follistatin. Like follistatin, FLRG is involved in the regulation of various biological effects through its binding to members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF beta) superfamily such as activin A and myostatin. We have previously shown that TGF beta and activin A are potent inducers of,FLRG transcriptional activation through the Smad proteins. Using a biochemical approach, we investigated whether tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF alpha) could regulate FLRG expression since TNFa plays a critical role in hematopoietic malignancies. We demonstrate that TNF alpha activates FLRG expression at the transcriptional level. This activation depends on a promoter region containing four 107-108 bp DNA repeats, which are evolutionary conserved in primates. These repeats carry a strong phylogenetic signal, which is not common among non-coding sequences. Each DNA repeat contains one TNF alpha responsive element (5 '-GGGAGAG/TTCC-3 ') able to bind nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappa B) transcription factors. We also show that TGF beta through the Smad proteins, potentates the effect of TNF alpha on FLRG expression. This cooperation is unexpected since TGF beta and TNF alpha usually have opposite biological effects. In all, this work brings new insights in the understanding of FLRG regulation by cytokines and growth factors. It opens attractive perspectives of research that should allow us to better understand the role of FLRG during tumorigenesis. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.