title: USF1 prompt melanoma through upregulating TGF-β signaling pathway.
abstract: The activation of TGF-β signaling contributes to abnormal EMT process and upstream stimulatory family1 (USF1) was recently found to activate the expression of TGF-β. However, the specific role of USF1 in melanoma has never been explored.
  
  
  
  The expression of USF1 was analyzed using real-time PCR and Western blot. The changes of cell morphology were observed under a microscope. Cell migration was determined using in vitro scratch test. A specific siRNA was applied to knockdown of USF1.
  
  
  
  The mRNA and protein levels of USF1 were significantly enhanced in melanoma cell lines, 1205-Lu, DO4, WM3211, and WM278, compared with normal human melanocytes PIG1. Overexpression of USF1 induced demonstrated an elongated and spindle-shaped morphology in the 1205-Lu cells. Meanwhile, USF1 induced the expression of α-SMA, Vimentin and Fibronectin, while the epithelial marker, E-cadherin (E-cad), was significantly decreased. Furthermore, in vitro scratch test demonstrated that overexpression of USF1 markedly enhanced 1205-Lu cell migration capacity at 24 h and 48 h. More importantly, knockdown of USF1 could partially reverse TGF-β1-treatment-induced changes of EMT markers as well as cell morphological changes.
  
  
  
  We first demonstrate that overexpression of USF1 prompts the EMT process through the accumulation of TGF-β1 production in melanoma cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, ZhengZhou, China. liulinbo@zzu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Y-Q
authors.initials: YQ
authors.lastname: Ren
authors.forename: Q-H
authors.initials: QH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: L-B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D015703:Antigens, CD; D015820:Cadherins / Q000235:genetics*; D002465:Cell Movement; D005353:Fibronectins; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D006801:Humans; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors
chemical_list: D015703:Antigens, CD; C513384:CDH1 protein, human; D015820:Cadherins; C067625:FN1 protein, human; D005353:Fibronectins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta; D053773:Transforming Growth Factor beta1; C497181:USF1 protein, human; D051720:Upstream Stimulatory Factors