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BNIP3 is required for the differentiation of monocyte to macrophage
Author(s) -
Li Ching,
Tang YungCheng,
Hsieh PeiShan,
Shieh Biehuoy
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.20.4.a547-b
Subject(s) - u937 cell , retinoic acid , complementary dna , microbiology and biotechnology , monocyte , cellular differentiation , western blot , biology , northern blot , macrophage , cell culture , messenger rna , gene , chemistry , in vitro , immunology , biochemistry , genetics
The molecular mechanism of all‐ trans retinoic acid (ATRA)‐induced differentiation was under investigation. A pro‐apoptotic protein BNIP3 (Bcl‐2/adenovirus E1B 19 kda‐interacting protein 3) was thus identified by hybridization of human cDNA microarrays with cDNA derived from ATRA‐treated monocytic U937 cell line. The mRNA level of BNIP3 was greatly increased during the ATRA‐induced differentiation of U937 cells to macrophage phenotype, and the gene expression pattern was subsequently confirmed by RT‐PCR, FACScan, and Western blot analyses. The most importantly, antisense oligonucleotide against the expression of BNIP3 rendered the cells irresponsive to ATRA induction, while U937 cells underwent differentiation without stimulating when BNIP3 was overexpression in vivo . Taken together with the experimental evidences, we concluded that BNIP3 is a bi‐functional protein and required for the differentiation of monocytes to macrophages.