The regulation by growth hormone of lipoprotein lipase gene expression is mediated by c-fos protooncogene.

GH has been previously shown in Ob1771 adipose cells to activate transiently the expression of c-fos gene by a protein kinase-C-dependent pathway and to modulate, at last in part by a protein kinase-C-dependent pathway, the expression of the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene. In Ob1771 cells exposed to GH, under conditions where protein synthesis is inhibited by cycloheximide, the modulation of LPL gene expression is prevented, suggesting that synthesis of trans-acting factor(s) is required to modulate LPL gene expression. The present results indicate the involvement of c-Fos protein in this modulation; this involvement is supported by various lines of evidence: 1) upon GH stimulation, the increase in c-fos mRNA content is followed by the emergence of c-Fos protein within the nucleus, and this emergence precedes the increase in LPL mRNA content; 2) in GH-treated Ob1771 cells, exposure to antisense sof oligonucleotides abolishes the synthesis of c-Fos protein; and 3) at the same time, the increase in LPL mRNA content and LPL activity does not occur, whereas sense fos oligonucleotides show no effect. It is concluded that c-Fos protein plays an intermediary role in the modulation of LPL gene expression by GH.