Down-regulation of STAT5b transcriptional activity by ligand-activated peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha and PPARgamma.

The nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) is activated by a diverse group of acidic ligands, including many peroxisome proliferator chemicals present in the environment. Janus tyrosine kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) signaling is activated by multiple cytokines and hormones and leads to the translocation of dimerized STAT proteins to the nucleus where they activate transcription of target genes. Previous studies have shown that growth hormone (GH)-activated STAT5b can inhibit PPAR-regulated transcription. Here, we show that this inhibitory cross-talk is mutual, and that GH-induced, STAT5b-dependent beta-casein promoter-luciferase reporter gene transcription can be inhibited up to approximately 80% by ligand-activated PPARalpha or PPARgamma. Dose-response experiments showed a direct relationship between the extent of PPAR activation and the degree of inhibition of STAT5-regulated transcription. PPAR did not block STAT5b tyrosine phosphorylation or inhibit DNA-binding activity. Both PPARs inhibited the transcriptional activity of a constitutively active STAT5b mutant, indicating that inhibition occurs downstream of the GH-stimulated STAT5 activation step. Transcriptionally inactive, dominant-negative PPAR mutants did not block STAT5b inhibition by wild-type PPAR, indicating that PPAR target gene transcription is not required. PPARalpha retained its STAT5b inhibitory activity in the presence of the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin, indicating that enhanced histone deacetylase recruitment does not contribute to STAT5b inhibition. PPARalpha lacking the ligand-independent AF-1 trans-activation domain failed to inhibit STAT5b, highlighting the importance of the AF-1 region in STAT5-PPAR inhibitory cross-talk. These findings demonstrate the bidirectionality of cross-talk between the PPAR and STAT pathways and provide a mechanism whereby exposure to environmental chemical activators of PPAR can suppress expression of GH target genes.