Heat shock factor HSF1 regulates BDNF gene promoters upon acute stress in the hippocampus, together with pCREB

Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) is a master stress-responsive transcriptional factor, protecting cells from death. However, its gene regulation in vivo in the brain in response to neuronal stimuli remains elusive. Here, we investigated its direct regulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene (Bdnf) in response to acute neuronal stress stimuli in the brain. The results of immunohistochemistry and chromatin immunoprecipitation quantitative PCR (ChIP-qPCR) showed that administration of kainic acid (a glutamate receptor agonist inducing excitotoxity) to young adult mice induced HSF1 nuclear translocation and its binding to multiple Bdnf promoters in the hippocampus. Footshock, a physical stressor used for learning, also induced HSF1 binding to selected Bdnf promoters I and IV. This is, to our knowledge, the first demonstration of HSF1 gene regulation in response to neuronal stimuli in the hippocampus in vivo. HSF1 binding sites (HSEs) in Bdnf promoters I and IV were also detected when immunoprecipitated by an antibody of phosphorylated (p)CREB (cAMP-responsive element-binding protein), suggesting their possible interplay in acute stress-induced Bdnf transcription. Interestingly, their promoter binding patterns differed by KA and footshock, suggesting that HSF1 and pCREB orchestrate to render fine-tuned promoter control depending on the types of stress. Further, HSF1 overexpression increased Bdnf promoter activity in a luciferase assay, while virus infection of constitutively active-form HSF1 increased levels of BDNF mRNA and protein in vitro in primary cultured neurons. These results indicated that HSF1 activation of Bdnf promoter was sufficient to induce BDNF expression. Taken together, these results suggest that HSF1 promoter-specific control of Bdnf gene regulation plays an important role in neuronal protection and plasticity in the hippocampus in response to acute stress, possibly interplaying with pCREB.

Automated summary

The study reveals the direct regulation of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene by heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) in the brain in response to neuronal stress stimuli. This regulation plays a crucial role in neuronal protection and plasticity in the hippocampus during acute stress.