Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4): What we currently know

Gene. 2017 May 5:611:27-37. doi: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.02.025. Epub 2017 Feb 22.

Abstract

Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is an evolutionarily conserved zinc finger-containing transcription factor that regulates diverse cellular processes such as cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Since its discovery in 1996, KLF4 has been gaining a lot of attention, particularly after it was shown in 2006 as one of four factors involved in the induction of pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Here we review the current knowledge about the different functions and roles of KLF4 in various tissue and organ systems.

Keywords: Cancer; Cell cycle; Differentiation; Diseases; Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; Gene expression; Inflammation; KLF4; Organs; Proliferation; Stem cells; Tissues; Transcription.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Base Sequence
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics*
  • Cell Proliferation / genetics*
  • Gene Expression Regulation*
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism*
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics*
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Sequence Homology, Amino Acid

Substances

  • KLF4 protein, human
  • Kruppel-Like Factor 4
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors