Calcium influx into MIN6 insulinoma cells induces expression of Egr-1 involving extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase and the transcription factors Elk-1 and CREB.

Glucose induces many changes in the transcriptional pattern of beta-cells derived from the endocrine pancreas. The zinc finger protein Egr-1 belongs to the transcription factors that are activated in glucose-treated beta-cells. Egr-1 expression is additionally induced by treatment of MIN6 pancreatic beta-cells with tolbutamide, a compound that triggers a closure of ATP-dependent potassium channels, K(ATP), in the plasma membrane or by KCl that depolarizes the cell membrane. Stimulation with glucose, tolbutamide or KCl induces a Ca2+ influx into the beta-cells via L-type Ca2+ channels. Accordingly, incubation of the cells with the L-type Ca2+ channel blocker nifedipine or the acetoxymethylester of the cytosolic Ca2+ chelator BAPTA prevented Egr-1 expression. Moreover, diacylgycerol-dependent protein kinase C isoenzymes and activation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) are required for glucose-, tolbutamide- and KCl-induced Egr-1 expression. The signaling cascade was blocked by MAP kinase phosphatase-1 (MKP-1) overexpression that dephosphorylated ERK in the nucleus. Stimulation of beta-cells by glucose, tolbutamide and KCl induced the phosphorylation of the transcription factors Elk-1 and CREB. ChIP experiments revealed that phosphorylated Elk-1 and CREB bound under physiological conditions to the Egr-1 gene. Lentiviral-mediated expression of dominant-negative mutants of Elk-1 or CREB interfered with glucose-, tolbutamide- and KCl-induced upregulation of Egr-1 biosynthesis. Together, these data indicate that stimulus-induced transcription of the Egr-1 gene in beta-cells requires combinatorial regulation by Elk-1 and CREB following activation of ERK. The newly synthesized Egr-1 is biologically active and binds under physiological conditions to the genes encoding basic fibroblast growth factor, tumor necrosis factor alpha, transforming growth factor beta and PTEN.