Academic literature on the topic 'KLFs factor'

Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) are some kind of transcriptional regulator that regulates a broad range of cellular functions and has been linked to the development of certain malignancies. KLF expression patterns and prognostic values in colorectal cancer (CRC) have, however, been investigated rarely. To investigate the differential expression, predictive value, and gene mutations of KLFs in CRC patients, we used various online analytic tools, including ONCOMINE, TCGA, cBioPortal, and the TIMER database. KLF2-6, KLF8-10, KLF12-15, and KLF17 mRNA expression levels were dramatically downregulated in CRC tissues, but KLF1, KLF7, and KLF16 mRNA expression levels were significantly elevated in CRC tissues. According to the findings of Cox regression analysis, upregulation of KLF3, KLF5, and KLF6 and downregulation of KLF15 were linked with a better prognosis in CRC. For functional enrichment, our findings revealed that KLF members are involved in a variety of cancer-related biological processes. In colon cancer and rectal cancer, KLFs were also shown to be associated with a variety of immune cells. The findings of this research reveal that KLF family members’ mRNA expression levels are possible prognostic indicators for patients with CRC.

Abstract The globin CACCC boxes are absolutely required for the appropriate regulation of the β-like globin genes. While the β-globin CACCC box binds EKLF/KLF1, a likely adult switching factor, analogous factors, interacting with the γ-globin gene and predicted to regulate the fetal stage of hemoglobin switching, have so far been elusive. By using yeast one hybrid assay, we have isolated four KLFs, KLF1, 2, 4, and 6, that bound the γ-CACCC bait. To establish their role in globin regulation and in the switching of hemoglobins, these factors were compared to four other KLFs already established or putative globin regulators, KLF3, 11, 13 and 16, mainly evaluating their ability to bind and transactivate the ε-, γ- and β-globin gene. γ-CACCC binding at variable intensities was confirmed in band shift assay for all four isolated KLFs, for KLF3 and, faintly, for KLF13. The ε- and β-CACCC were bound by the same factors with similar affinities with the exception of KLF3 and KLF13 that bound stronger to the β- and ε- than to the γ-CACCC box. On the other hand, KLF11 and 16 did not produce any specific complex in band shift assays with anyone of the globin CACCC boxes. More relevant differences were observed among the factors in the transactivation of single and dual luciferase reporters in both K562 and MEL cells. In these assays, most factors presented peculiar modulatory properties and specific promoter tropism. Several factors presented bidirectional activity displaying in the same time the capacity to stimulate and repress different globin promoters. KLF1 and 4 were the strongest stimulators of the β-globin promoter in both cell lines, whereas KLF2 activated the β-promoter only in K562 cells. KLF1 and especially KLF4 consistently repressed ε-globin expression especially in MEL cells. KLF3 behaved always as a general globin repressor in MEL cells, but acted as a weak stimulator of the γ- and ε-promoter in K562 cells. KLF4 was the strongest inhibitor of the ε-globin gene. KLF13 significantly stimulated the γ-promoter in both cell lines, whereas KLF3, 4 and 6 showed statistically significant stimulation only in MEL cells. By RT-PCR analysis we found that KLFs were highly variable in their tissue expression and that KLF1, 3 and 13 had the highest expression in erythroid tissues. Thus the level of tissue expression should ultimately determine which factors are really active in physiological conditions. Taken together our binding and expression studies suggest that several KLFs have the potential to modulate the activity of the globin genes and that the resulting globin expression will depend on the vectorial sum of the relative activities of the factors expressed at any given time of development. Furthermore, as some KLFs, like KLF1 and 4, exert opposite effects on fetal and adult globin genes, their role in hemoglobin switching may be direct and not only dependent on their ability to mediate promoter competition for the LCR.

ABSTRACT Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) recognize CACCC and GC-rich sequences in gene regulatory elements. Here, we describe the disruption of the murine basic Krüppel-like factor gene (Bklf or Klf3). Klf3 knockout mice have less white adipose tissue, and their fat pads contain smaller and fewer cells. Adipocyte differentiation is altered in murine embryonic fibroblasts from Klf3 knockouts. Klf3 expression was studied in the 3T3-L1 cellular system. Adipocyte differentiation is accompanied by a decline in Klf3 expression, and forced overexpression of Klf3 blocks 3T3-L1 differentiation. Klf3 represses transcription by recruiting C-terminal binding protein (CtBP) corepressors. CtBPs bind NADH and may function as metabolic sensors. A Klf3 mutant that does not bind CtBP cannot block adipogenesis. Other KLFs, Klf2, Klf5, and Klf15, also regulate adipogenesis, and functional CACCC elements occur in key adipogenic genes, including in the C/ebpα promoter. We find that C/ebpα is derepressed in Klf3 and Ctbp knockout fibroblasts and adipocytes from Klf3 knockout mice. Chromatin immunoprecipitations confirm that Klf3 binds the C/ebpα promoter in vivo. These results implicate Klf3 and CtBP in controlling adipogenesis.

Abstract Abstract 3272 Antiphospholipid syndrome (APS) is characterized by thrombosis and/or recurrent pregnancy loss in the presence of antiphospholipid antibodies (APLA). The majority of APLA are directed against phospholipid binding proteins, particularly β2GPI. Anti-ß2GPI antibodies activate endothelial cells and monocytes in a β2GPI-dependent manner through a pathway that involves NF-κB and leads to increased expression of adhesion molecules, tissue factor and proinflammatory cytokines. Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) regulate endothelial cell and monocyte responses to inflammatory stimuli; increased expression of these transcription factors inhibits proinflammatory and procoagulant gene expression, and maintains vascular homeostasis. We recently reported that anti-ß2GPI antibodies decrease the expression of KLF2 and KLF4 in endothelial cells (Allen et al, Blood 2011), promoting endothelial cell activation. Subsequent studies demonstrate that these antibodies decrease expression of KLF2 in monocytes as well. Statins have been proposed as a potential alternative to anticoagulation for APS patients, and stimulate the expression of KLFs. We hypothesized that the ability of statins to block endothelial cell activation in response to anti-β2GPI antibodies was mediated by KLFs. Treatment of endothelial cells and monocytes with 100 nM fluvastatin, lovastatin, or simvastatin upregulated KLF2 and KLF4 mRNA, even in the presence of anti-ß2GPI antibodies. In parallel, statin treatment inhibited the anti-β2GPI antibody-mediated induction of E-selectin, VCAM-1, and TF mRNA in endothelial cells, and ICAM-1 and TF mRNA in human monocytes. To assess the dependence of these effects on KLF expression, endothelial cells were pretreated with KLF2 or KLF4 siRNA prior to treatment with statins. siRNA-mediated inhibition of KLF expression completely blocked the ability of statins to prevent anti-β2GPI antibody-induced endothelial cell activation, as measured by adhesion molecule and TF mRNA levels and expression of E-selectin on the endothelial cell surface. Taken together, these data demonstrate that KLFs are critical modulators of the effects of statins on endothelial cells, and that increased expression of KLFs may represent a mechanism by which these drugs inhibit the activation of endothelial cells and monocytes by APLA/anti-β2GPI antibodies. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) are important Sp1-like eukaryotic transcriptional proteins. The LDLR, StAR, and CYP11A genes exhibit GC-rich Sp1-like sites, which have the potential to bind KLFs in multiprotein complexes. We now report that KLF4, KLF9, and KLF13 transcripts are expressed in and regulate ovarian cells. KLF4 and 13, but not KLF9, mRNA expression was induced and then repressed over time ( P < 0.001). Combined LH and IGF-I stimulation increased KLF4 mRNA at 2 h ( P < 0.01), whereas LH decreased KLF13 mRNA at 6 h ( P < 0.05), and IGF-I reduced KLF13 at 24 h ( P < 0.01) compared with untreated control. KLF9 was not regulated by either hormone. Transient transfection of KLF4, KLF9, and KLF13 suppressed LDLR/luc, StAR/luc, and CYP11A/luc by 80–90% ( P < 0.001). Histone-deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors stimulated LDLR/luc five- to sixfold and StAR/luc and CYP11A/luc activity twofold ( P < 0.001) and partially reversed suppression by all three KLFs ( P < 0.001). Deletion of the zinc finger domain of KLF13 abrogated repression of LDLR/luc. Lentiviral overexpression of the KLF13 gene suppressed LDLR mRNA ( P < 0.001) and CYP11A mRNA ( P = 0.003) but increased StAR mRNA ( P = 0.007). Collectively, these data suggest that KLFs may recruit inhibitory complexes containing HDAC corepressors, thereby repressing LDLR and CYP11A transcription. Conversely, KLF13 may recruit unknown coactivators or stabilize StAR mRNA, thereby explaining enhancement of in situ StAR gene expression. These data introduce new potent gonadal transregulators of genes encoding proteins that mediate sterol uptake and steroid biosynthesis.

Aim: β-Type hemoglobinopathies are characterized by vast phenotypic diversity as far as disease severity is concerned, while differences have also been observed in hydroxyurea (HU) treatment efficacy. These differences are partly attributed to the residual expression of fetal hemoglobin (HbF) in adulthood. The Krüppel-like family of transcription factors (KLFs) are a set of zinc finger DNA-binding proteins which play a major role in HbF regulation. Here, we explored the possible association of variants in KLF gene family members with response to HU treatment efficacy and disease severity in β-hemoglobinopathies patients. Materials & methods: Six tag single nucleotide polymorphisms, located in four KLF genes, namely KLF3, KLF4, KLF9 and KLF10, were analyzed in 110 β-thalassemia major patients (TDT), 18 nontransfusion dependent β-thalassemia patients (NTDT), 82 sickle cell disease/β-thalassemia compound heterozygous patients and 85 healthy individuals as controls. Results: Our findings show that a KLF4 genomic variant (rs2236599) is associated with HU treatment efficacy in sickle cell disease/β-thalassemia compound heterozygous patients and two KLF10 genomic variants (rs980112, rs3191333) are associated with persistent HbF levels in NTDT patients. Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence that genomic variants located in KLF10 gene may be considered as potential prognostic biomarkers of β-thalassemia clinical severity and an additional variant in KLF4 gene as a pharmacogenomic biomarker, predicting response to HU treatment.

Abstract Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterized by increased self-renewal of leukemia stem/progenitor cells and failure of differentiation to mature myeloid cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single stranded non-coding RNAs 19 to 24 nucleotides in length that regulate expression of tens to hundreds of genes via mRNA degradation or translational repression. MiRNA contributions to normal hematopoiesis have been described and deletion of key miRNA processing enzymes in murine and human cells suggests that miRNA loss contributes to the cancer phenotype and aberrant differentiation in leukemia. By combining observations of miRNA expression in normal hematopoietic progenitor cells and patient AML cells and high-throughput lentiviral expression library screening approaches in AML cell lines we have identified candidate miRNAs that contribute to altered proliferation and differentiation in AML cells. We have previously established 1) that miR-150 expression is decreased in a large subset of primary patient AML samples, in particular poor risk cytogenetic groups, 2) and that miR-150 re-expression induces myeloid differentiation and decreases cell proliferation of normal hematopoietic progenitor cells and AML cell lines and primary patient cells in part through downregulation of MYB expression. MiR-150 loss is relevant in other hematopoietic and solid tumor malignancies where re-expression inhibits cell proliferation, promotes apoptosis and induces reversal of endothelial to mesenchymal transition. Transcription factors are important regulators of myeloid differentiation and cell proliferation. Moreover, as highlighted by recent sequencing of the AML genome, alterations in myeloid transcription factors through mutation, gene rearrangement, and altered expression play a significant role in leukemogenesis. Consequently, we have focused on how myeloid transcription factors regulate miRNA expression, specifically for miR-150. Results: Using 5’RACE from healthy bone marrow RNA, we identified a major transcription start site at 214 basepairs upstream of the pre-miR-150 hairpin. We identified the minimal miR-150 promoter region as -266 to +259 basepairs from the major transcription start site using miR-150 promoter truncation luciferase constructs assayed in myeloid leukemia cell lines (THP-1, K562, and KG1a) and a lymphoid leukemia cell line (Jurkat). We identified DNA binding sites for the Krüppel-like factor (KLF) family of transcription factors that are necessary for miR-150 promoter activity using site-directed DNA mutagenesis of the luciferase reporters. KLFs regulate proliferation, differentiation, pluripotency, migration and inflammation. Depending on cell type and context, KLFs can function as tumor suppressors or oncogenes. To identify which KLF isoforms regulate miR-150 expression, we assayed the ability of KLFs 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, and 10 to induce miR-150 promoter activity using the luciferase reporters and endogenous miR-150 expression by quantitative PCR. KLF2 and KLF4 overexpression increased miR-150 promoter activity in luciferase assays 50-fold and 450-fold respectively in K562 cells. Furthermore, KLF2 and KLF4 induced endogenous miR-150 expression 20-fold and 100-fold respectively as detected by quantitative PCR in both THP-1 and K562 cells. Prior work has established that KLF2 and KLF4 regulate the differentiation of monocytes. We then confirmed that KLF2 and KLF4 overexpression promotes myeloid differentiation of THP-1 cells by flow cytometry and gene expression that was partially reversed by inhibition of miR-150 expression. Conclusions: Previous studies have determined that KLF2 and KLF4 expression are decreased or absent in a significant subset of AML cases. Our observations suggest that loss of KLF2 and KLF4 expression contributes to decreased miR-150 expression which in turn alters cell proliferation and differentiation. Other studies have implicated the cell cycle inhibitor p21WAF1/CIP1 and altered PPAR gamma signaling downstream of KLF4. Nonetheless, our mechanistic understanding is limited. Our work suggests that the loss of miR-150 and other miRNAs downstream of these transcription factors also contributes. Understanding the interactions between KLFs, miR-150 and other miRNAs has broader significance as KLF2 and KLF4 expression is altered in other hematopoietic and solid tumors. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract Stomach or gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common malignancies observed in men and women worldwide. It is also a leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The disease is potentially curable when diagnosed early with survival records of more than 90%. This number, however, sharply declines to less than 20% when diagnosed at advanced stages. Therefore identification of functional molecular markers that can predict the progression of the disease is of utmost importance as early diagnosis enhances the chances of successful therapeutic intervention. Krüppel-like Factors (KLFs) are a family of evolutionarily conserved transcriptional regulators with zinc finger DNA binding domains. KLFs have been shown to play important roles both in normal development as well as in disease progression. In cancers, KLFs have been reported to regulate diverse cellular processes like cell growth, proliferation and differentiation. Of the 17 KLFs identified to date, KLF4 and KLF 5 show significantly altered expression in GC tissues compared to normal gastric tissues (TCGA sample analysis of gene expression pattern for KLFs). WhileKLF5 typically pro-proliferative and acts as a tumor promoter, KLF4 has been both oncogenic and tumor-suppressive. KLF4 downregulation is associated with a poor prognosis in GC. However, the specific role of KLF4 in GC progression has not been fully elucidated. Using human GC tissues, orthotropic gastric tumors developed in athymic nude mice, and in vitro functional assays, we hereby report that loss of KLF4 in GC disrupts tight junction stability of epithelial cells. Loss of KLF4 expression correlates with altered expression of tight junction proteins such as claudins and ZO1 in GC. Altered expression of these proteins results in disruption of epithelial barrier integrity leading to cell detachment and metastasis. Therefore, our work indicates that loss of KLF4 observed in GC may promote cell metastasis and can serve as a prognostic marker for GC metastasis. The knowledge generated from this study not only imparts insight into the pathogenesis of GC metastasis but also will be helpful in the development of newer treatment strategies in the future. Citation Format: Sandeep Goswami, Chandrani Sarkar, Wendy L. Frankel, Sujit Basu, Debanjan Chakroborty. Loss of Krüppel-like factor 4 facilitates disruption of epithelial barrier function in gastric cancer and promotes metastasis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2022; 2022 Apr 8-13. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2022;82(12_Suppl):Abstract nr 2415.

Abstract Several Kruppel-like factor family members, including KLF1, KLF2, KLF3, and KLF6 have pivotal roles in hematopoiesis. Experiments in zebrafish have suggested that KLF4 may play a similar role. Here we found that enforced expression of KLF4 in hematopoietic cells induced cell cycle arrest without triggering apoptosis. Based on the high levels of expression of KLF4 in mouse and human hematopoietic stem-progenitor cells (HSPCs), we hypothesized and demonstrated that KLF4 regulates proliferation of these cells through regulation of p21cip1/waf1 (p21). Nevertheless, KLF4−/− mouse fetal liver cells had normal numbers of all mature lineages and provided radioprotection, similar to wild type (wt) controls. Furthermore, in long-term competitive repopulation assays, KLF4−/− mouse HSPCs demonstrated hematopoietic potency equivalent to wt. We found that KLF2 is expressed at higher levels than KLF4 in mouse HSPCs and is a more potent activator of p21, suggesting that KLF2 (and/or other KLF family members) may play a compensatory role in KLF4−/− HSPCs. Thus, although is not essential for their normal development and function, KLF4 expression is sufficient to induce p21-mediated cell cycle arrest in hematopoietic cells.

Abstract Krüppel-like factors (KLF) are a group of 17 transcription factors with highly conserved DNA-binding domains that contain three C-terminal C2H2-type zinc fingers and a variable N-terminal domain responsible for recruiting cofactors 1. KLFs participate in diverse roles in stem cell renewal, early patterning, organogenesis and tissue homeostasis. Krüppel-like factor 1 (KLF1) is an erythroid-specific KLF responsible for coordinating many aspects of terminal erythroid differentiation 2. It functions as a transcriptional activator by recruiting cofactors such as p300 and chromatin modifiers such as Brg1 via N-terminal transactivation domains 3. Krüppel-like factor 3 (KLF3) acts as a transcriptional repressor via recruitment of C-terminal binding proteins 4. In erythropoiesis, KLF1 directly activates KLF3 via an erythroid-specific promoter 5. Some KLF1 target genes are upregulated in Klf3-/- fetal liver suggesting possible competition between the two factors for promoter/enhancer occupancy. We generated three independent clones of the erythroid cell line, J2E, by retroviral transduction of a tamoxifen-inducible version of Klf3 (Klf3-ERTM) as previously described 6. Using next-generation sequencing of newly synthesised RNA (4sU-labeling), we show KLF3 induction leads to immediate repression of a set of ~580 genes; a subset of these (54) are also directly induced by KLF1 in K1-ER cells, suggesting antagonistic regulation. Indeed, ChIP-seq revealed KLF1 and KLF3 bind many of the same regulatory sites within the erythroid cell genome. KLF3 also binds an independent set of promoters which are not bound by KLF1, suggesting it also plays a KLF1-independent role in maintenance of gene repression. By de novo motif discovery we confirm KLF3 binds preferably to a extended CACCC motif, R-CCM-CRC-CCN, so the DNA-binding specificity in vivo is indistinguishable from the KLF1 binding specificity 7, and is independent of co-operating DNA-binding proteins or cofactors. Using Q-PCR of KLF1 ChIPed DNA in J2E-Klf3ER cells, we show that overexpression of KLF3 directly displaces KLF1 from many key target sites such as the E2f2 enhancer and this leads to down regulation of gene expression. This is the first proof that KLF1 and KLF3 directly compete for key promoters and enhancers which drive erythroid cell proliferation and differentiation. We propose KLF3 acts to 'fine-tune' transcription in erythropoiesis by repressing genes activated by KLF1 and that this negative feedback system is necessary for precise control over the generation of erythrocytes. It also works independently of KLF1 perhaps via competition for binding with other KLF/SP factors. References: 1. van Vliet J, Crofts LA, Quinlan KG, Czolij R, Perkins AC, Crossley M. Human KLF17 is a new member of the Sp/KLF family of transcription factors. Genomics. 2006;87(4):474-482. 2. Tallack MR, Magor GW, Dartigues B, et al. Novel roles for KLF1 in erythropoiesis revealed by mRNA-seq. Genome Res. 2012. 3. Perkins A, Xu X, Higgs DR, et al. "Kruppeling" erythropoiesis: an unexpected broad spectrum of human red blood cell disorders due to KLF1 variants unveiled by genomic sequencing. Blood. 2016. 4. Dewi V, Kwok A, Lee S, et al. Phosphorylation of Kruppel-like factor 3 (KLF3/BKLF) and C-terminal binding protein 2 (CtBP2) by homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) modulates KLF3 DNA binding and activity. J Biol Chem. 2015;290(13):8591-8605. 5. Funnell AP, Maloney CA, Thompson LJ, et al. Erythroid Kruppel-like factor directly activates the basic Kruppel-like factor gene in erythroid cells. Mol Cell Biol. 2007;27(7):2777-2790. 6. Coghill E, Eccleston S, Fox V, et al. Erythroid Kruppel-like factor (EKLF) coordinates erythroid cell proliferation and hemoglobinization in cell lines derived from EKLF null mice. Blood. 2001;97(6):1861-1868. 7. Tallack MR, Whitington T, Yuen WS, et al. A global role for KLF1 in erythropoiesis revealed by ChIP-seq in primary erythroid cells. Genome Res. 2010;20(8):1052-1063. Disclosures Perkins: Novartis Oncology: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria.