HuR Enhances Early Restitution of the Intestinal Epithelium by Increasing Cdc42 Translation.

The mammalian intestinal mucosa exhibits a spectrum of responses after acute injury and repairs itself rapidly to restore the epithelial integrity. The RNA-binding protein HuR regulates the stability and translation of target mRNAs and is involved in many aspects of gut epithelium homeostasis, but its exact role in the regulation of mucosal repair after injury remains unknown. We show here that HuR is essential for early intestinal epithelial restitution by increasing the expression of cell division control protein 42 (Cdc42) at the posttranscriptional level. HuR bound to the Cdc42 mRNA via its 3' untranslated region, and this association specifically enhanced Cdc42 translation without an effect on the Cdc42 mRNA level. Intestinal epithelium-specific HuR knockout not only decreased Cdc42 levels in mucosal tissues, but it also inhibited repair of damaged mucosa induced by mesenteric ischemia/reperfusion in the small intestine and by dextran sulfate sodium in the colon. Furthermore, Cdc42 silencing prevented HuR-mediated stimulation of cell migration over the wounded area by altering the subcellular distribution of F-actin. These results indicate that HuR promotes early intestinal mucosal repair after injury by increasing Cdc42 translation and demonstrate the importance of HuR deficiency in the pathogenesis of delayed mucosal healing in certain pathological conditions.

Liu L ，Zhuang R ，Xiao L ，Chung HK ，Luo J ，Turner DJ ，Rao JN ，Gorospe M ，Wang JY ... -  《-》

RNA-binding protein HuR regulates translation of vitamin D receptor modulating rapid epithelial restitution after wounding.

Zhang Y ，Cai JZ ，Xiao L ，Chung HK ，Ma XX ，Chen LL ，Rao JN ，Wang JY ... -  《-》

Posttranscriptional regulation of 14-3-3ζ by RNA-binding protein HuR modulating intestinal epithelial restitution after wounding.

The 14-3-3ζ is a member of the family of 14-3-3 proteins and participates in many aspects of cellular processes, but its regulation and involvement in gut mucosal homeostasis remain unknown. Here, we report that 14-3-3ζ expression is tightly regulated at the posttranscription level by RNA-binding protein HuR and plays an important role in early intestinal epithelial restitution after wounding. The 14-3-3ζ was highly expressed in the mucosa of gastrointestinal tract and in cultured intestinal epithelial cells (IECs). The 3' untranslated region (UTR) of the 14-3-3ζ mRNA was bound to HuR, and this association enhanced 14-3-3ζ translation without effect on its mRNA content. Conditional target deletion of HuR in IECs decreased the level of 14-3-3ζ protein in the intestinal mucosa. Silencing 14-3-3ζ by transfection with specific siRNA targeting the 14-3-3ζ mRNA suppressed intestinal epithelial restitution as indicated by a decrease in IEC migration after wounding, whereas ectopic overexpression of the wild-type 14-3-3ζ promoted cell migration. These results indicate that HuR induces 14-3-3ζ translation via interaction with its 3' UTR and that 14-3-3ζ is necessary for stimulation of IEC migration after wounding.

Hansraj NZ ，Xiao L ，Wu J ，Chen G ，Turner DJ ，Wang JY ，Rao JN ... -  《Physiological Reports》

The RNA-binding protein HuR regulates intestinal epithelial restitution by modulating Caveolin-1 gene expression.

The integrity of the intestinal mucosal barrier protects hosts against pathological conditions. Early mucosal restitution after wounding refers to epithelial cell migration into a defect. The RNA-binding protein HuR plays an important role in the posttranscriptional regulation of gene expression and is involved in many aspects of cellular physiology. In the present study, we investigated the role of HuR in the regulation of cell migration through the posttranscriptional regulation of Caveolin-1 (Cav-1). Online software was used to identify Cav-1 mRNA as a potential target of HuR. The interaction of HuR with Cav-1 mRNA was investigated via ribonucleoprotein immunoprecipitation (RNP IP) assays and biotin pulldown analysis. HuR was found to bind specifically to the Cav-1 3'-UTR rather than the coding region or 5'-UTR. Transfection of cells with siHuR decreased both HuR protein levels and Cav-1 protein levels; conversely, ectopic overexpression of HuR via infection of cells with an adenoviral vector containing HuR cDNA (AdHuR) increased Cav-1 protein levels without disturbing Cav-1 mRNA levels. Thus, HuR enhanced Cav-1 expression in vitro by stimulating Cav-1 translation. Intestinal epithelium-specific HuR knockout in mice decreased Cav-1 protein levels without changing Cav-1 mRNA levels, consistent with the in vitro results. Decreasing the levels of HuR via siHuR transfection inhibited early epithelial repair, but this effect was reversed by ectopic overexpression of GFP-tagged Cav-1. These results indicate that posttranscriptional regulation of Cav-1 gene expression by HuR plays a critical role in the regulation of rapid epithelial repair after wounding.

Cao S ，Xiao L ，Wang J ，Chen G ，Liu Y ... -  《-》

Competition between RNA-binding proteins CELF1 and HuR modulates MYC translation and intestinal epithelium renewal.

The mammalian intestinal epithelium is one of the most rapidly self-renewing tissues in the body, and its integrity is preserved through strict regulation. The RNA-binding protein (RBP) ELAV-like family member 1 (CELF1), also referred to as CUG-binding protein 1 (CUGBP1), regulates the stability and translation of target mRNAs and is implicated in many aspects of cellular physiology. We show that CELF1 competes with the RBP HuR to modulate MYC translation and regulates intestinal epithelial homeostasis. Growth inhibition of the small intestinal mucosa by fasting in mice was associated with increased CELF1/Myc mRNA association and decreased MYC expression. At the molecular level, CELF1 was found to bind the 3'-untranslated region (UTR) of Myc mRNA and repressed MYC translation without affecting total Myc mRNA levels. HuR interacted with the same Myc 3'-UTR element, and increasing the levels of HuR decreased CELF1 binding to Myc mRNA. In contrast, increasing the concentrations of CELF1 inhibited formation of the [HuR/Myc mRNA] complex. Depletion of cellular polyamines also increased CELF1 and enhanced CELF1 association with Myc mRNA, thus suppressing MYC translation. Moreover, ectopic CELF1 overexpression caused G1-phase growth arrest, whereas CELF1 silencing promoted cell proliferation. These results indicate that CELF1 represses MYC translation by decreasing Myc mRNA association with HuR and provide new insight into the molecular functions of RBPs in the regulation of intestinal mucosal growth.

Liu L ，Ouyang M ，Rao JN ，Zou T ，Xiao L ，Chung HK ，Wu J ，Donahue JM ，Gorospe M ，Wang JY ... -  《-》