Ets-2 is involved in transcriptional regulation of C1qTNF-related protein 5 in muscle cells.

It was recently reported that C1qTNF-related protein 5 (CTRP5) regulates glucose and lipid metabolism in muscle cells. However, the molecular mechanism of CTRP5 expression has not been fully investigated. In this study we demonstrate the mechanism regulating the transcription of the CTRP5 gene in muscle cells. We found that potential binding sites for transcription factors were conserved in proximal region of CTRP5 promoters in human, mouse and rat. Among these factors, Ets-2 was found to increase the promoter activity of the CTRP5 gene in C2C12 cells. Deletion of -166 to -80 in the CTRP5 promoter region significantly decreased Ets-2-induced CTRP5 promoter activity. Mutagenesis evaluation indicated that two putative Ets-2-binding sites in the CTRP5 promoter are important in CTRP5 activation. Promoter enzyme immunoassay showed that Ets-2 binds directly to two Ets-2-responsive elements at regions -166/-80 of the CTRP5 promoter. Taken together, these results suggest that Ets-2 play a key role in transcriptional regulation of CTRP5 in muscle cells.