RNA-sequencing in Mouse Embryonic Fibroblasts exposed to different Intensities of Hyperosmotic Stress

The inability of cells to adapt to increased environmental tonicity can lead to inflammatory gene expression and pathogenesis. The Rel family of transcription factors TonEBP and NF-?B p65 play critical roles in the switch from osmoadaptive homeostasis to inflammation, respectively. Here we identified a marker of the termination of adaptation and initiation of inflammation. We found that high stress inhibits protein interactions essential for the increased expression of TonEBP-dependent osmoprotective genes. This resulted in enhanced formation of TonEBP/NF-?B p65 complexes and enhanced proinflammatory gene expression. Overall design: MEFs were treated with control, 500 mOsm, or 600 mOsm sucrose in triplicate and analyzed via RNA-seq