ZNF143 mediates CTCF-bound promoter-enhancer loops required for murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell function.

CCCTC binding factor (CTCF) is an important factor in the maintenance of chromatin-chromatin interactions, yet the mechanism regulating its binding to chromatin is unknown. We demonstrate that zinc finger protein 143 (ZNF143) is a key regulator for CTCF-bound promoter-enhancer loops. In the murine genome, a large percentage of CTCF and ZNF143 DNA binding motifs are distributed 37 bp apart in the convergent orientation. Furthermore, deletion of ZNF143 leads to loss of CTCF binding on promoter and enhancer regions associated with gene expression changes. CTCF-bound promoter-enhancer loops are also disrupted after excision of ZNF143. ZNF143-CTCF-bound promoter-enhancer loops regulate gene expression patterns essential for maintenance of murine hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell integrity. Our data suggest a common feature of gene regulation is that ZNF143 is a critical factor for CTCF-bound promoter-enhancer loops.

[Association of stroke and different combinations of metabolic syndrome components in Chinese adults].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the association of stroke and metabolic syndrome as well as its component combinations in Chinese adults. METHODS: Logistic regression was used to analyze the data, including anthropometric measurement, fasting plasma glucose (FPG), blood lipids, and histories of smoking, drinking, and anamnesis, of 47,414 subjects, 22,305 males and 25,105 females, aged 20-75, obtained from Chinese National Health and Nutrition Survey in 2002. RESULTS: (1) Blood pressure and waist circumference were the most important factors associated with stroke. Along with the clustering of the risk factors, the subjects became more liable to suffer from stroke. Logistic regression showed that after adjustment for age, sex, smoking status, and LDL-C level, the odd ratio (OR) values of the individuals with one, two, three, and four or more factors were 3.01 (1.89-4.81) ,4.37 (2.72-7.01), 9.20 (5.75-14.73), and 13.09 (7.98-21.49) respectively. (2) The combinations of raised hypertension plus hyperglycemia and low LDL-C and central obesity were the most hazard groups, with the OR values of 16.58 (95% CI 8.78-31.32) for stroke. The OR value for the full metabolic syndrome was 10.79 (95% CI 6.81-17.10). Hypertriglyceridemia was not an independent risk factor of stroke. (3) The relationships of metabolic risk factors and stroke were various among different age groups. Stroke was not related with blood glucose, blood pressure, serum lipids, and obesity in the subjects under 35; in those aged 35-55, diastolic Bp and low HDL-C were most significantly related to stroke; as for those above 55, systolic Bp and waist circumference were most significantly related to stroke. CONCLUSION: Central obesity cored metabolic syndrome is an important risk factor of stroke. Different combinations of the components attribute variously to stroke. In people above middle age, stroke is related to metabolic risk factors.