ESM-1 is a novel human endothelial cell-specific molecule expressed in lung and regulated by cytokines

J Biol Chem. 1996 Aug 23;271(34):20458-64. doi: 10.1074/jbc.271.34.20458.

Abstract

We here report the identification of a novel human endothelial cell-specific molecule (called ESM-1) cloned from a human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) cDNA library. Constitutive ESM-1 gene expression (as demonstrated by Northern blot and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis) was found in HUVECs but not in the other human cell lines tested. The cDNA sequence contains an open reading frame of 552 nucleotides and a 1398-nucleotide 3'-untranslated region including several domains involved in mRNA instability and five putative polyadenylation consensus sequences. The deduced 184-amino acid sequence defines a cysteine-rich protein with a functional NH2-terminal hydrophobic signal sequence. Searches in several data bases confirmed the unique identity of this sequence. A rabbit immune serum raised against the 14-kDa COOH-terminal peptide of ESM-1 immunoprecipitated a 20-kDa protein only in ESM-1-transfected COS cells. Immunoblotting and immunoprecipitation of HUVEC lysates revealed a specific 20-kDa band corresponding to ESM-1. In addition, constitutive ESM-1 gene expression was shown to be tissue-restricted to the human lung. Southern blot analysis suggests that a single gene encodes ESM-1. A time-dependent up-regulation of ESM-1 mRNA was seen after addition of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha) or interleukin (IL)-1beta but not with IL-4 or interferon gamma (IFNgamma) alone. In addition, when IFNgamma was combined with TNFalpha, IFNgamma inhibited the TNFalpha-induced increase of ESM-1 mRNA level. These data suggest that ESM-1 may have potent implications in the areas of vascular cell biology and human lung physiology.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Amino Acid Sequence
  • Base Sequence
  • Cytokines / physiology*
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiology*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Genes
  • Humans
  • Lung / physiology*
  • Molecular Sequence Data
  • Molecular Weight
  • Neoplasm Proteins*
  • Proteins / genetics*
  • Proteins / metabolism
  • Proteoglycans*
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • Sequence Alignment
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
  • Tissue Distribution
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • Cytokines
  • DNA, Complementary
  • ESM1 protein, human
  • Neoplasm Proteins
  • Proteins
  • Proteoglycans
  • RNA, Messenger

Associated data

  • GENBANK/X89426