Thyroid transcription factor-1 exhibits osmosensitive transcription in brain-derived cell lines

Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) belongs to the Nkx family of homeodomain-containing proteins and regulates expression of several important genes in the brain. Our previous studies showed that TTF-1 plays an important role in water homeostasis in the subfornical organ of rats and is involved in cerebrospinal fluid formation by regulation of aquaporin-1 transcription in the choroid plexus. In this study, we examined changes in TTF-1 transcription in response to hypertonicity using promoter assays. TTF-1 was synthesized in several osmosensitive regions of the rat brain. TTF-1 promoter activity was diminished by treatment with hypertonic solutions in a time- and dose-dependent manner in brain-derived cell lines. Additionally, TTF-1 was involved in the regulation of angiotensinogen (Aogen) transcription under a hyperosmotic condition through specific binding domains in the Aogen promoter. These results suggest a possible role of TTF-1 in brain fluid homeostasis in response to changes in the osmotic environment.