The predominant transcription factors regulating key genes in diabetic kidney disease have not been established. The transcription factor upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) is an important regulator of glucose-mediated transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 expression in mesangial cells; however, its role in the development of diabetic kidney disease has not been evaluated. In the present study,...

Upstream transcription factor 1 (USF1) allelic variants significantly influence future risk of cardiovascular disease and overall mortality in females. We investigated sex-specific effects of USF1 gene allelic variants on serum indices of lipoprotein metabolism, early markers of asymptomatic atherosclerosis and their changes during six years of follow-up. In addition, we investigated the cis-re...

Genomic instability is a major hallmark of cancer. To maintain genomic integrity, cells are equipped with dedicated sensors to monitor DNA repair or to force damaged cells into death programs. The tumor suppressor p53 is central in this process. Here, we report that the ubiquitous transcription factor Upstream Stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) coordinates p53 function in making proper cell fate decis...

Upstream transcription factor 1 (USF1), the first gene associated with familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL), regulates numerous genes of glucose and lipid metabolism. Phenotypic overlap between FCHL, type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome makes this gene an intriguing candidate in the disease process of these traits as well. As no disease-associated mutations in the coding region of USF1...

Xiao, Qianxun, Agnes Kenessey, and Kaie Ojamaa. Role of USF1 phosphorylation on cardiac -myosin heavy chain promoter activity. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 283: H213–H219, 2002. First published March 28, 2002; 10.1152/ajpheart.01085.2001.—Contractile activity of the cardiac myocyte is required for maintaining cell mass and phenotype, including expression of the cardiac-specific -myosin heavy...

Sanchez AP, Zhao J, You Y, Declèves A-E, Diamond-Stanic M, Sharma K. Role of the USF1 transcription factor in diabetic kidney disease. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 301: F271–F279, 2011. First published May 4, 2011; doi:10.1152/ajprenal.00221.2011.—The predominant transcription factors regulating key genes in diabetic kidney disease have not been established. The transcription factor upstream stim...

The insulator element at the 5' end of the chicken beta-globin locus acts as a barrier, protecting transgenes against silencing effects of adjacent heterochromatin. We showed earlier that the transcription factor USF1 binds within the insulator and that this site is important for generating in adjacent nucleosomes histone modifications associated with active chromatin and, by inference, with ba...

A single-nucleotide polymorphism (C/A) located within an E-box at the -20 position of the human angiotensinogen (AGT) promoter may regulate transcriptional activation through differential recruitment of the transcription factors upstream stimulatory factor (USF) 1 and 2. To study the contribution of USF1 on AGT gene expression, mice carrying a (-20C) human AGT (hAGT) transgene were bred with mi...

OBJECTIVE Genetic studies implicated upstream stimulatory factor 1 (USF1) in familial combined hyperlipidemia because the rs2073658 minor allele was associated with reduced risk of familial combined hyperlipidemia and related disorders. The molecular mechanisms whereby rs2073658 influences trait expression have remained elusive. METHODS AND RESULTS Plasma lipids, rs2073658 genotypes (N=372), ...

OBJECTIVE A common haplotype of the upstream transcription factor 1 gene (USF1) has been associated with decreased susceptibility to familial combined hyperlipidemia (FCHL) and, paradoxically, with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all-cause mortality. METHODS AND RESULTS We assessed associations between USF1 tagSNPs, CVD risk factors, and aging-related phenotypes using data ...