KLF2 primes the antioxidant transcription factor Nrf2 for activation in endothelial cells

Joost O Fledderus, Reinier A Boon, Oscar L Volger, Hanna Hurttila, Seppo Ylä-Herttuala, Hans Pannekoek, Anna-Liisa Levonen, Anton J G Horrevoets

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Atheroprotective blood flow induces expression of anti-inflammatory Krüppel-like factor 2 (KLF2) and activates antioxidant transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in vascular endothelium. Previously, we obtained KLF2-induced gene expression profiles in ECs, containing several Nrf2 target genes. Our aim was to investigate the role of KLF2 in shear stress-mediated activation of Nrf2 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

METHODS AND RESULTS: Expression of Nrf2 and its targets NAD(P)H dehydrogenase quinone 1 (NQO1) and heme oxygenase (HO-1) was elevated by shear and KLF2. KLF2 knockdown showed that shear-induced expression of NQO1 but not Nrf2 was dependent on KLF2. KLF2 overexpression in absence of flow resulted in more efficient activation of Nrf2 by tert-butyl hydroquinone (tBHQ) through enhanced nuclear localization, and promoted expression of a large panel of Nrf2-dependent genes resulting in superior protection against oxidative stress. Comparison of shear-, KLF2-, and Nrf2-induced transcriptomes showed that the majority of shear-modulated gene sets is influenced by KLF2 or Nrf2.

CONCLUSIONS: We report that KLF2 substantially enhances antioxidant activity of Nrf2 by increasing its nuclear localization and activation. The synergistic activity of these two transcription factors forms a major contribution to the shear stress-elicited transcriptome in endothelial cells.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1339-46
Number of pages8
JournalArteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology
Volume28
Issue number7
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Jul 2008

Keywords

  • Active Transport, Cell Nucleus
  • Antioxidants
  • Cells, Cultured
  • Endothelial Cells
  • Enzyme Induction
  • Gene Expression Profiling
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Heme Oxygenase-1
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • NAD(P)H Dehydrogenase (Quinone)
  • NF-E2-Related Factor 2
  • Oxidants
  • Oxidative Stress
  • Pulsatile Flow
  • RNA Interference
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Stress, Mechanical
  • Transfection
  • Up-Regulation
  • tert-Butylhydroperoxide

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