Involvement of Sp1 and SREBP-1a in transcriptional activation of the LDL receptor gene by insulin and LH in cultured porcine granulosa-luteal cells

Luteinizing hormone (LH) and insulin stimulate transcriptional activity of the porcine low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor (LDLR) promoter supra-additively in primary cultures of granulosa-luteal cells. The mechanistic basis of this bihormonal interaction is unknown. The pig LDLR gene promoter includes three putative Sp1/Sp3-binding sites and one sterol response element (SRE) site 5′ upstream to the transcriptional start site. To assess the role of SRE-binding protein (SREBP) in LDLR gene regulation, swine granulosa-luteal cells were cotransfected with CMV/SREBP-1a or SREBP-2 and the pLDLR1076/luc promoter. SREBP-1a and SREBP-2 stimulated LDLR gene transcription eight- and fourfold, respectively. LH alone augmented stimulation by SREBP-1 twofold. Conversely, cotransfection of a dominant-negative mutant form of SREBP-1a repressed basal and hormonally stimulated LDLR promoter activity by >80% (P < 0.01). Mutation of the SRE −167 ATCACCCCATG −157 to −167 ATCACCgCATG −157 bp decreased basal expression by 5...