Functional role of KLF10 in multiple disease processes

Since the discovery by this laboratory of the zinc finger transcription factor, KLF10, a member of the Kruppel-like family of transcription factors, there have been multiple publications regarding its functions and its immediate family members, in numerous cell types. KLF10 has been shown to be rapidly induced by TGF beta 1, 2, 3, E-2, epidermal growth factor, and bone morphogenetic protein-2. TGF beta inducible early gene-1 activates the TGF beta-Smad signaling pathway via repression of Smad 7 expression and activation of Smad 2 expression and activity. Overall, KLF10 has been implicated in cell differentiation, as a target gene for a variety of signaling pathways, and in serving as a potential marker for human diseases such as breast cancer, cardiac hypertrophy, and osteoporosis. Like other KLF members, KLF10 is expressed in specific cell types in numerous tissues and is known to be involved in repressing cell proliferation and inflammation as well as inducing apoptosis similar to that of TGF beta. KLF10 binds to Sp-1-GC rich DNA sequences and can activate or repress the transcription of a number of genes. Overall, KLF10 has been shown to play a major role in the TGF beta inhibition of cell proliferation and inflammation and induction of apoptosis, and its overexpression in human osteoblasts and pancreatic carcinoma cells mimics the actions of TGF beta. (C) 2010 International Union of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Inc.