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Modulation of NFAT‐dependent gene expression by the RhoA signaling pathway in T cells
Author(s) -
Helms Whitney S.,
Jeffrey Jerry L.,
Holmes Derek A.,
Townsend Michael B.,
Clipstone Neil A.,
Su Lishan
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
journal of leukocyte biology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.819
H-Index - 191
eISSN - 1938-3673
pISSN - 0741-5400
DOI - 10.1189/jlb.0206120
Subject(s) - rhoa , nfat , biology , transcription factor , activator (genetics) , microbiology and biotechnology , guanine nucleotide exchange factor , gene expression , regulation of gene expression , signal transduction , gene , biochemistry
We have reported previously that p115Rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor, its upstream activator Gα13, and its effector RhoA are able to inhibit HIV‐1 replication. Here, we show that RhoA is able to inhibit HIV‐1 gene expression through the NFAT‐binding site in the HIV long‐terminal repeat. Constitutively active NFAT counteracts the inhibitory activity of RhoA, and inhibition of NFAT activation also inhibits HIV‐1 gene expression. We have shown further that RhoA inhibits NFAT‐dependent transcription and IL‐2 production in human T cells. RhoA does not inhibit nuclear localization of NFAT but rather, inhibits its transcriptional activity. In addition, RhoA decreases the level of acetylated histone H3, but not NFAT occupancy, at the IL‐2 promoter. These data suggest that activation of RhoA can modulate IL‐2 gene expression by inhibiting the transcriptional activity of NFAT and chromatin structure at the IL‐2 promoter during T cell activation.