Mammalian Krüppel-Like Factors in Health and Diseases

Abstract

The Krüppel-like factor (KLF) family of transcription factors regulates diverse biological processes that include proliferation, differentiation, growth, development, survival, and responses to external stress. Seventeen mammalian KLFs have been identified, and numerous studies have been published that describe their basic biology and contribution to human diseases. KLF proteins have received much attention because of their involvement in the development and homeostasis of numerous organ systems. KLFs are critical regulators of physiological systems that include the cardiovascular, digestive, respiratory, hematological, and immune systems and are involved in disorders such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, KLFs play an important role in reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and maintaining the pluripotent state of embryonic stem cells. As research on KLF proteins progresses, additional KLF functions and associations with disease are likely to be discovered. Here, we review the current knowledge of KLF proteins and describe common attributes of their biochemical and physiological functions and their pathophysiological roles.

The E3 Ubiquitin Ligase SMAD Ubiquitination Regulatory Factor 2 Negatively Regulates Krüppel-like Factor 5 Protein

“…1D). Hence, specific SMURFs can recognize specific Krüppel-like factors despite the highly conserved nature of the DNA-binding domains of Krüppel-like factors (27). These results also provide evidence of KLFs as a novel family of transcription factors regulated by SMURFs and demonstrate a new structural basis of substrate recognition for the SMURF family of ubiquitin ligases.…”

Pseudomonas aeruginosa eradicates Staphylococcus aureus by manipulating the host immunity

“…This transcription factor, also called lung KLF, belongs to the SP-1 zinc-finger transcription factor 46 . KLF2 exerts an anti-inflammatory activity in endothelial cells, monocytes and epithelial cells [47][48][49] .…”

Identification of Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase-1 (PARP-1) as a Novel Krüppel-like Factor 8-interacting and -regulating Protein

“…Because the ZF domains are well conserved among the KLF family proteins, the PARP-1-mediated regulatory mechanism identified in this work could apply to other KLF family proteins as well. Like KLF8, several other KLF family members including KLF4, KLF5, KLF6, KLF8, KLF9, KLF10, KLF11, and KLF12 are involved in cancer pathobiology (27,35). PARP-1 has long been considered as a molecular target to enhance anti-cancer therapeutic efficiency (12,(15)(16)(17)(18).…”