Identification of transcription factors involved in the transcriptional regulation of the CXCL12 gene in rat pancreatic insulinoma Rin-5F cell line.

Diabetes is characterized by a deficit in the number of functional pancreatic β-cells. Understanding the mechanisms that stimulate neogenesis of β-cells should contribute to improved maintenance of β-cell mass. Chemokine CXCL12 has recently become established as a novel β-cell growth factor, however the mechanisms controlling its expression require clarification. We investigated the proteins involved in the transcriptional regulation of the rat β-cell CXCL12 gene (Cxcl12). Using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation, we established the in vitro and in vivo binding of C/EBPβ, C/EBPα, STAT3, p53, FOXO3a, and HMG I/Y to the Cxcl12 promoter. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed protein-protein interactions between YY1 and PARP-1, FOXO3a and PARP-1, Sp1 and PARP-1, p53 and PARP-1, C/EBPβ and PARP-1, YY1 and p53, YY1 and FOXO3a, p53 and FOXO3a, Sp1 and FOXO3a, C/EBPβ and FOXO3a, C/EBPα and FOXO3a, Sp1 and STAT3. Our data lay the foundation for research into the interplay of signaling pathways that determine the β-cell Cxcl12 expression profile.