CCAAT-enhancer binding protein (C/EBP) β regulates insulin-like growth factor (IGF) 1 expression in porcine liver during prenatal and postnatal development.

IGF1 expression regulation attracts numerous interests because of its important role during mammalian growth and development. Domestic pig can be used as a valuable animal model to investigate human development since they share the high similarity in general physiology and metabolism. In this study, we examined the expression pattern of IGF1 and found it associated with liver C/EBP β expression pattern in porcine liver during embryonic and postnatal development. Both IGF1 and C/EBP β expression in liver maintained at low levels before birth and increased after birth. Correspondingly, C/EBP β demonstrated high binding activity to two sites at IGF1 promoter region in liver after birth. Additionally, IGF1 expression can be activated by C/EBP β overexpression in porcine primary hepatocytes. These results indicated that C/EBP β can activate IGF1 expression after birth by binding to IGF1 promoter. Our study may contribute to a better understanding of mammalian development and bring a novel anti-aging pathway in human.