Dexamethasone stimulates expression of transposable type A intracisternal retroviruslike genes in mouse (Mus musculus) cells.

Dexamethasone treatment enhances expression of transposable intracisternal type A particles (IAP) at RNA and proteins levels in a murine retrovirus-transformed cell line (Ki-BALB). This effect was ascertained by electron microscopic numeration of IAP. By sequence comparison, we located glucocorticoid-responsive elements in IAP long terminal repeats. Their regulatory potential was tested on the promoter activity of an IAP long terminal repeat construct coupled with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene. Our findings suggest that the IAP activation by dexamethasone occurs at the level of transcription.