OBJECTIVETo investigate the regulation effects of upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) on osteopontin expression in odontoblasts.

METHODSOdontoblast MDPC-23 was cultured and stably transfected with PCMV-USF1 or A-USF plasmids. Total RNA was extracted and osteopontin expression examined by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. Gray value of osteopontin was measured and statistic analysis performed.

RESULTSClones of stable PCMV-USF1 and A-USF plasmids transfection were obtained. Compared with the control, osteopontin was upregulated in PCMV-USF1 transfection group, and downregulated in A-USF transfection group.

CONCLUSIONSUpstream stimulatory factor 1 could regulate the osteopontin expression in odontoblasts, which could be blocked partly by A-USF.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Humans ; Odontoblasts ; metabolism ; Osteopontin ; genetics ; metabolism ; Plasmids ; genetics ; RNA, Messenger ; genetics ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Transfection ; Upstream Stimulatory Factors ; genetics

The upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) gene has been shown to play an essential role as the cause of familial combined hyperlipidemia, and there are several association studies on the relationship between USF1 and metabolic disorders. In this study, we analyzed two single nucleotide polymorphisms in USF1 rs2073653 (306A>G) and rs2516840 (1748C>T) between the case (dyslipidemia or obesity) group and the control group in premenopausal females, postmenopausal females, and males among 275 Korean subjects. We observed a statistically significant difference in the GC haplotype between body mass index (BMI) > or =25 kg/m(2) and BMI <25 kg/m(2) groups in premenopausal females ( chi-square=4.23, p=0.04). It seems that the USF1 GC haplotype is associated with BMI in premenopausal Korean females.
Adult ; Aged ; *Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Female ; Genotype ; *Haplotypes ; Humans ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Premenopause ; Upstream Stimulatory Factors/*genetics

As a member of the hox gene family, hoxB4 gene encodes a class of DNA-dependent homeobox domain nucleoprotein, which is a specific transcription factor, playing an important role in regulating the balance between self-renewal and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Therefore, it is important to understand the mechanisms involved in regulating expression of hoxB4 in the HSC. Previous studies have suggested that some hoxB4 upstream regulatory factors, such as USF-1 (upstream activating factor -1), USF-2 (upstream activating factor -2) and NF-Y complex, as well as hematopoietic cytokines, such as platelet growth factor (TPO) and Wnt3a protein, play important regulatory roles in the expression of hoxB4 in hematopoietic stem cells. In this review the structure and biological characteristics of hoxB4, mechanisms involved in regulating expression of hoxB4 in the HSC are summarized.
CCAAT-Binding Factor ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Genes, Homeobox ; genetics ; physiology ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells ; metabolism ; Homeodomain Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Humans ; Transcription Factors ; genetics ; metabolism ; physiology ; Upstream Stimulatory Factors ; metabolism ; Wnt Proteins ; metabolism ; Wnt3 Protein ; Wnt3A Protein