Down-regulation of type I Runx2 mediated by dexamethasone is required for 3T3-L1 adipogenesis

Runx2, a runt-related transcriptional factor family member, is involved in the regulation of osteoblast differentiation. Interestingly, it is abundant in growth-arrested 3T3-L1 preadipocytes and was dramatically down-regulated during adipocyte differentiation. Knockdown of Runx2 expression promoted 3T3-L1 adipocyte differentiation, whereas overexpression inhibited adipocyte differentiation and promoted the trans-differentiation of 3T3-L1 preadipocytes to bone cells. Runx2 was down-regulated specifically by dexamethasone (DEX). Only type I Runx2 was expressed in 3T3-L1 preadipocytes. Using luciferase assay and chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative PCR analysis, it was found that DEX repressed this type of Runx2 at the transcriptional level through direct binding of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) to a GR-binding element in the Runx2 P2 promoter. Further studies indicated that GR recruited histone deacetylase 1 to the Runx2 P2 promoter which then mediated the deacetylation of histone H4 and down-regul...