Egr-1 negatively regulates expression of the sodium-calcium ex...

OBJECTIVE: Increased expression of the transcription factor early growth response gene-1 (Egr-1) accompanies catecholamine infusion. Catecholamine-treated, Egr-1-deficient (-/-) mice show exacerbated cardiac damage when compared to similarly treated wild-type (+/+) mice, suggesting that Egr-1 reduces heart damage. We sought to identify Egr-1-mediated cardiac sparing genes. METHODS: Microarray analyses identified increased sodium calcium exchanger-1 (NCX1) expression in catecholamine-treated -/- mice. Immunoblots assessed NCX1 expression in +/+, -/-, and transgenic mice overexpressing Egr-1 in heart and cardiac differentiated H9c2 cells harboring wild-type Egr-1 (wtEgr-1) or NAB-binding ablating mutations. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) used anti-Egr-1 antibody coupled to amplification of purified Egr-1/associated DNA. RESULTS: Immunoblots revealed a two- to threefold increase in NCX1 in catecholamine-stimulated and naive -/- versus +/+ mice. In contrast, transgenic mice overexpressing Egr-1 in heart had 30% of normal NCX1 protein. Thus, the in vivo data indicate that Egr-1 negatively controls NCX1 expression. In vitro cardiac differentiated H9c2 cells overexpressing wtEgr-1 also showed 30% NCX1 expression. However, cells overexpressing NAB-ablating Egr-1 mutations showed four- to fivefold increased NCX1 expression. NCX1 promoter DNA was specifically amplified from Egr-1/associated DNA. Thus, the in vitro results indicate that Egr-1/NAB interactions are critical for NCX1 repression at the NCX1 promoter. CONCLUSIONS: NCX1 is responsible for calcium exit from cardiomyocytes, and continued overexpression is thought to be detrimental. We propose that one way Egr-1 action is cardiac sparing is by promoting a reduction in NCX1 expression.