Ets transcriptional regulation of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in neuroblastomas.

Background: We have demonstrated that gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) binds specifically to its cell surface receptor, GRP-R, to act as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for neuroblastomas (NBs); an increased expression of GRP-R was found in more advanced-stage NBs. Ets family proteins are nuclear targets for intracellular kinase pathways that can lead to cell proliferation; however, a potential role of Ets in the expression of GRP-R in NBs is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine whether Ets regulates transcriptional activity of GRP-R in NBs.

Methods: We identified multiple DNA-binding sites for various nuclear transcription factors in the proximal (ie, 263 bp) GRP-R promoter. Luciferase assay was performed to measure GRP-R promoter activity that contained site-specific mutations of various binding elements. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed to determine transcription factor-binding activity.

Results: Mutation of a consensus Ets-binding site in the GRP-R promoter significantly decreased GRP-R promoter activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated a decrease in Ets nuclear protein-binding activity. Furthermore, overexpression of Ets1 resulted in upregulation of GRP-R promoter activity.

Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that Ets is a transcription factor that significantly contributes to the GRP-R transcription in NBs. This finding may allow us to develop novel molecular tools to downregulate expression of GRP-R and hence inhibit mitogenic effects of GRP in NBs.