Thyroid and glucocorticoid hormones induce expression of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase gene in CDX-2/HNF-1α co-transfected IEC-6 cells

J Nutr Sci Vitaminol (Tokyo). 2014;60(5):321-7. doi: 10.3177/jnsv.60.321.

Abstract

Thyroid and glucocorticoid hormones and several transcriptional factors such as caudal type homeobox (CDX)-2 and hepatocyte nuclear factor (HNF)-1α are important for the differentiation of small intestinal absorptive cells and the consequent expression of genes related to the digestion/absorption of carbohydrates. In this study, we investigated whether thyroid and glucocorticoid hormones enhanced the expression of lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LPH) gene, an intestine-specific gene that encodes an enzyme for lactose digestion, in small intestinal stem-like IEC-6 cells co-transfected with CDX-2 and HNF-1α using a retrovirus system. Changes in expression of intestine-specific genes caused by treatment with thyroid and/or glucocorticoid hormones were monitored in empty vector-transfected cells and in CDX-2/HNF-1α co-transfected cells by qRT-PCR. Stable co-transfection with CDX-2 and HNF-1α evoked the expression of the LPH gene in IEC-6 cells. Furthermore, treatment with a thyroid hormone, triiodothyronine, and a glucocorticoid receptor agonist, dexamethasone, significantly enhanced expression of the LPH, CDX-2 and HNF-1α genes in CDX-2/HNF-1α co-transfected IEC-6 cells. These results suggest that thyroid and glucocorticoid hormones synergistically enhance expression of the LPH gene in CDX-2/HNF-1α co-transfected IEC-6 cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • CDX2 Transcription Factor
  • Cell Line
  • Dexamethasone / pharmacology
  • Endogenous Retroviruses / genetics
  • Epithelial Cells / drug effects
  • Epithelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Glucocorticoids / pharmacology*
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha / genetics*
  • Homeodomain Proteins / genetics*
  • Intestines / cytology
  • Lactase-Phlorizin Hydrolase / genetics*
  • Rats
  • Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid / agonists
  • Thyroid Hormones / pharmacology*
  • Trans-Activators / genetics*
  • Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Transfection / methods
  • Triiodothyronine / pharmacology

Substances

  • CDX2 Transcription Factor
  • Glucocorticoids
  • Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha
  • Homeodomain Proteins
  • Receptors, Glucocorticoid
  • Thyroid Hormones
  • Trans-Activators
  • Transcription Factors
  • Triiodothyronine
  • Dexamethasone
  • Lactase-Phlorizin Hydrolase