Identification of a vitamin D response element in the proximal promoter of the chicken carbonic anhydrase II gene.

The carbonic anhydrase II gene, whose transcription is enhanced by 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2D3), encodes an important enzyme in bone-resorbing cells derived from the fusion of monocytic progenitors. We analyzed the 1,25-(OH)2D3-mediated activation of the avian gene by transient transfection assays with promoter/reporter constructs into HD11 chicken macrophages and by DNA mobility shift assays. Deletion and mobility shift analyses indicated that the -62/-29 region confers 1,25-(OH)2D3 responsiveness and forms DNA-protein complexes. The addition of an anti-vitamin D receptor (VDR) antibody inhibited binding to this sequence, whereas anti-retinoid X receptor (RXR) antibody generated a lower mobility complex. Therefore, we concluded that this element binds a VDR.RXR heterodimer, but the addition of extra 1,25-(OH)2D3 had no effect on the formation of this complex. Moreover, the use of nuclear extracts from 1,25-(OH)2D3-treated macrophages led to the formation of an additional high mobility complex also composed of VDR.RXR heterodimer. Mutations provided evidence that the 1, 25-(OH)2D3-mediated activation of the carbonic anhydrase II gene is mediated by VDR.RXR heterodimers bound to a DR3-type vitamin D response element with sequence AGGGCAtggAGTTCG. This vitamin D response element is also functional in the ROS 17/2.8 osteoblasts.