LIM homeobox protein 6 (LHX6)

LIM homeobox protein 6 is a transcription factor belonging to the LIM homeobox domain family, containing two LIM domains and a central homeodomain for DNA binding. In humans, it plays a critical regulatory role during embryogenesis for neural and lymphoid cell differentiation. LHX6 suppresses tumorigenesis by promoting cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and limiting cell proliferation and migration. In lung and cervical cancer, its expression is frequently silenced through promoter hypermethylation, and restoration of LHX6 expression inhibits tumor cell growth both in vitro and in vivo. Downregulation or loss of LHX6 results in increased cell proliferation, reduced apoptosis, and deregulation of several cell cycle and growth-related genes. Its methylation status is being investigated as a potential biomarker for early diagnosis of certain cancers.

Other names

LIM/homeobox protein Lhx6LHX6.1hLHX6LIM homeodomain protein 6.1

Epigenetic reactivation (e.g., demethylating agents restore expression); Indirect modulation of apoptosis, cell cycle, and proliferation genes (e.g., upregulating p53, p21; downregulating Bcl-2, cyclinD1, c-myc, CD44, MMP7)