We have used a series of human estrogen receptor (ER) mutants to evaluate the cell- and promoter-specific transcriptional activities of the TAF1 and TAF2 transactivation regions within the human ER. We show that the manifestation of TAF1 or TAF2 function depends strongly upon promoter context; on certain promoters, both the TAF1 and TAF2 activators are required for wild-type transcriptional activity, whereas on other promoters, the TAF1 and TAF2 activators function independently. Using these constructs, we show that the antagonist activity of the triphenylethylene-derived antiestrogens, e.g. tamoxifen, arises from their intrinsic inability to activate ER TAF2 function. However, on certain promoters, these antiestrogens efficiently activate gene transcription through ER. Consistent with this observation, the TAF2 function of the ER is not required on all promoters. In these TAF2-independent promoter contexts, TAF2 function may be provided by a separate transcription factor bound to the promoter. These data suggest that 1) TAF1 may be the major transcriptional activator of the ER; and 2) TAF2 functions as a transcriptional facilitator. On promoters where TAF2 function is provided independently of the ER, the TAF1 function of the ER can function independently of TAF2 activity, allowing triphenylethylene-derived antiestrogens to demonstrate partial agonist activity. These observations provide a possible molecular explanation for the tissue-specific partial agonist properties of tamoxifen and related triphenylethylene antiestrogens observed in vivo.

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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a disease affecting the synovial membranes of articulating joints that is thought to result from T-cell-mediated autoimmune phenomena. T cells responsible for the pathogenesis of RA are likely present in that fraction of synovial T cells that expresses the interleukin 2 receptor (IL-2R), one marker of T-cell activation. We report herein an analysis of T-cell receptor (TCR) beta-chain gene expression by IL-2R-positive synovial T cells. These T cells were isolated from uncultured synovial tissue specimens by using IL-2R-specific monoclonal antibodies and magnetic beads, and TCR beta-chain transcription was analyzed by PCR-catalyzed amplification using a panel of primers specific for the human TCR beta-chain variable region (V beta). Multiple V beta gene families were found to be transcribed in these patients samples; however, three gene families, V beta 3, V beta 14, and V beta 17, were found in a majority of the five synovial samples analyzed, suggesting that T cells bearing these V beta s had been selectively retained in the synovial microenvironment. In many instances, the V beta 3, V beta 14, or V beta 17 repertoires amplified from an individual patient were dominated by a single rearrangement, indicative of clonal expansion in the synovium and supportive of a role for these T cells in RA. Of note is a high sequence similarity between V beta 3, V beta 14, and V beta 17 polypeptides, particularly in the fourth complementarity-determining region (CDR). Given that binding sites for superantigens have been mapped to the CDR4s of TCR beta chains, the synovial localization of T cells bearing V beta s with significant CDR4 homology indicates that V beta-specific T-cell activation by superantigen may play a role in RA.

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The early region of the polyoma genome encodes three T antigens. We have analyzed the organization of the coding regions for the T antigens, using the nucleotide sequence of polyoma DNA and peptides derived from purified, radio-labeled T antigens, separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis and chromatography. We compared the peptides, predicted from the nucleotide sequence of the DNA, with those derived from the purified T antigens. We also compared chemically synthesized peptides, predicted from the DNA sequence, with observed peptides. The results show that the three polyoma T antigens are encoded in overlapping regions of the viral DNA, translated, in part, in two different reading frames.

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