
Endothelial cell activation and dysfunction underlie many vascular disorders, including atherosclerosis and inflammation. Here, we show that interleukin-4 (IL-4) markedly induced vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), both in cultured endothelial cells and in the intact endothelium in mice. Combined treatment with IL-4 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) resulted in further, sustained induction of VCAM-1 expression. IL-4-mediated induction of VCAM-1 and secondary monocyte adhesion was predominantly regulated by the transcription factor STAT6. Genome-wide survey of IL-4-mediated STAT6 binding from sequential chromatin-immunoprecipitation with deep sequencing (chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing [ChIP-seq]) in endothelial cells revealed regions of transient and sustained transcription factor binding. Through the combination of DNA microarrays and ChIP-seq at the same time points, the majority of IL-4-responsive genes were shown to be STAT6 dependent and associated with direct STAT6 binding to their promoter. IL-4-mediated stable binding of STAT6 led to sustained target gene expression. Moreover, our strategy led to the identification of a novel functionally important STAT6 binding site within 16 kb upstream of the VCAM-1 gene. Taken together, these findings support a critical role for STAT6 in mediating IL-4 signal transduction in endothelial cells. Identification of a novel IL-4-mediated VCAM-1 enhancer may provide a foundation for targeted therapy in vascular disease.
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation, Binding Sites, Transcription, Genetic, Endothelial Cells, Gene Expression, Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Monocytes, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, HEK293 Cells, Cell Adhesion, Animals, Humans, Endothelium, Interleukin-4, Promoter Regions, Genetic, STAT6 Transcription Factor, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Signal Transduction
Chromatin Immunoprecipitation, Binding Sites, Transcription, Genetic, Endothelial Cells, Gene Expression, Regulatory Sequences, Nucleic Acid, Polymerase Chain Reaction, Monocytes, Mice, Inbred C57BL, Mice, HEK293 Cells, Cell Adhesion, Animals, Humans, Endothelium, Interleukin-4, Promoter Regions, Genetic, STAT6 Transcription Factor, Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis, Signal Transduction
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 40 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 10% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
