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Paired-Like Homeodomain Transcription Factors 1 and 2 Regulate Follicle-Stimulating Hormone β-Subunit Transcription through a Conserved cis-Element

Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (P.L., A.C.D., D.J.B.), McGill University, McIntyre Medical Sciences Building, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6; and Center for Biomedical Research (P.L., V.K., M.M.S., D.J.B.), Population Council, New York, New York 10021

Address all correspondence and requests for reprints to: Daniel J. Bernard, Ph.D., Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, McIntyre Medical Sciences Building, 3655 Promenade Sir-William-Osler, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3G 1Y6. E-mail: daniel.bernard{at}mcgill.ca.

Paired-like homeodomain transcription factors (PITX) regulate the activity of pituitary hormone-encoding genes. Here, we examined mechanisms through which the family of PITX proteins control murine FSH β-subunit (Fshb) transcription. We observed that endogenous PITX1 and PITX2 isoforms from murine LβT2 gonadotrope cells could bind a highly conserved proximal cis-element. Transfection of PITX1 or PITX2C in heterologous cells stimulated both murine and human Fshb/FSHB promoter-reporter activities, and in both cases, mutation of the critical cis-element abrogated these effects. In homologous LβT2 cells, the same mutation decreased basal reporter activity and greatly reduced activin A-stimulated transcription from murine and human promoter-reporters. Transfecting dominant-negative forms of PITX1 or PITX2C or knocking down PITX1 or -2 expression by RNA interference in LβT2 cells inhibited murine Fshb transcription, confirming roles for endogenous PITX proteins. Both PITX1 and PITX2C interacted with Smad3 (an effector of the activin signaling cascade in these cells) in coprecipitation experiments, and the PITX binding site mutation greatly inhibited Smad2/3/4-stimulated Fshb transcription. In summary, both PITX1 and PITX2C regulate murine and human Fshb/FSHB transcription through a conserved cis-element in the proximal promoter. Furthermore, the data indicate both common and distinct mechanisms of PITX1 and PITX2C action.