Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) (KLF4)

Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc-finger transcription factor that plays a critical role in regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. In the context of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), KLF4 acts as a key mediator of the stress response, often operating in a disulfide-dependent signaling network that modulates the p53 pathway. This signaling axis is sensitive to the cellular redox state, where the formation or reduction of disulfide bonds in upstream regulators can influence KLF4 stability and its subsequent interaction with p53 to dictate cell fate decisions such as quiescence or programmed cell death. KLF4 is frequently dysregulated in various cancers, including leukemias, where it can function as either a tumor suppressor or an oncogene depending on the cellular context and its interaction with other proteins like p53. Therapeutic strategies targeting this pathway often aim to restore KLF4-mediated growth arrest in malignant cells, though the complexity of its redox-sensitive regulation presents both a challenge and an opportunity for selective drug development.

Other names

GKLFEZFGut-enriched Krueppel-like factorEpithelial zinc finger protein EZF

Induction of KLF4 expression leading to p21-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in cancer cells.