Regulation of lactoferrin gene expression by estrogen and epidermal growth factor: molecular mechanism

Cell Biochem Biophys. 1999;31(1):49-64. doi: 10.1007/BF02738154.

Abstract

Lactoferrin (LF) is a member of the transferrin gene family. Its expression in the mouse uterus is regulated by estrogen and epidermal growth factor (EGF). The author et al. cloned the LF gene promoter/enhancer region, and demonstrated that multihormone signaling pathways are involved in modulating LF gene activity. Three short but complex modules, within 400 bp from the transcription initiation site of the mouse LF gene, contain the response elements that are responsible for estrogen, retinoic acid, mitogen, and growth factor stimulation. These elements have been identified and characterized, using reporter constructs transiently transfected into human endometrial carcinoma RL95-2 cells. The author et al. used molecular approaches, such as deletion, insertion, and site-directed mutagenesis, to determine the relationship between the response elements, and to fine-map the crucial nucleotides within them. This article reviews the characterization of the estrogen and EGF response elements of the mouse LF gene promoter.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / pharmacology
  • Epidermal Growth Factor / physiology*
  • Estrogens / genetics
  • Estrogens / physiology*
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Lactoferrin / genetics*
  • Mice
  • Models, Biological
  • Models, Genetic
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA, Messenger / analysis
  • Uterus / metabolism

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • RNA, Messenger
  • Epidermal Growth Factor
  • Lactoferrin