Regulation Of Krüppel-like Factor 4 Research Articles

Circular RNA circPLOD2 regulates pericyte function by targeting the transcription factor KLF4

Circular RNAs are generated by backsplicing and control cellular signaling and phenotypes. Pericytes stabilize capillary structures and play important roles in the formation and maintenance of blood vessels. Here, we characterize hypoxia-regulated circular RNAs (circRNAs) in human pericytes and show that the circular RNA of procollagen-lysine,2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase-2 (circPLOD2) is induced by hypoxia and regulates pericyte functions. Silencing of circPLOD2 affects pericytes and increases proliferation, migration, and secretion of soluble angiogenic proteins, thereby enhancing endothelial migration and network capability. Transcriptional and epigenomic profiling of circPLOD2-depleted cells reveals widespread changes in gene expression and identifies the transcription factor krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) as a key effector of the circPLOD2-mediated changes. KLF4 depletion mimics circPLOD2 silencing, whereas KLF4 overexpression reverses the effects of circPLOD2 depletion on proliferation and endothelial-pericyte interactions. Together, these data reveal an important function of circPLOD2 in controlling pericyte proliferation and capillary formation and show that the circPLOD2-mediated regulation of KLF4 significantly contributes to the transcriptional response to hypoxia.

Analysis of Mir-7 (microRNA-7) Expression in Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas and Its Possible Role in the Regulation of the Transcription Factor KLF4 and YY1

Previous report has been shown that microRNA-7 (miR-7) play a important role in the development of various types of cancer such as lung, hepatocellular, breast, among others, however, in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) the role of miR-7 has not been studied. On the other hand, studies carried out by several groups report miR-7 as a direct regulator of the expression of KLF4 and YY1, both proteins function as transcription factors and have been reported by our group as important factors for development of malignancy in lymphoma (Valencia-Hipolito 2014). The objective of this work was to determine the possible correlation between miR-7-KLF4-YY1 in vitro as well as in clinical samples of lymphoma patient. Expression of KLF4 and YY1 were analyzed in several B-NHL cell lines by western blot, in addition KLF4, YY1 and miR-7 was analyzed by real-time PCR in LNH cell lines (Ramos, Raji, DHL4). The expression of KLF4 and YY1 was correlated with miR-7 expression in B-NHL cell lines. A tissue microarray (TMA) was constructed with 36 biopsies of NHL patients. TMA were analyzed by mIR-7 expression for hybridization in situ, as well as the expression of KLF4 and YY1 by immunohistochemistry. Finally, miR-7 expression was correlated with YY1 and KLF4 in TMA tissues. Our results shown an inverse correlation of miR-7 expression with KLF4 and YY1 expression on B-NHL cell lines. Also, miR-7 expression correlates inversely with the expression of KLF4 and YY1 in TMA of NHL samples, our results evidenced in the cell lines at both the messenger RNA and protein levels confirming the previously observed pattern in the TMA. Recent results in our laboratory suggest that YY1 regulates the expression of KLF4 in NHL (Vega et al 2013) however the mechanism by which YY1 is regulated in NHL has not been studied. Our results suggest that miR-7 can regulate the expression of both YY1 and KLF4 or the expression of YY1 and this expression of KLF4 in NHL, which could be an important prognostic marker.The results obtained suggest that miR-7 is involved in the regulation of KLF4 and YY1, both in patient biopsies and in NHL cell lines.Valencia-Hipόlito A, et al Expression of KLF4 is a predictive marker for survival inpediatric Burkitt lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma. 2014;55(8):1806-14Mario I Vega, et al Yin Yang 1 (YY1) Regulates The Transcription Of The Gene Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) In Pediatric Burkitt Lymphoma: Clinical Implications Blood 2013 122:3004 DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Regulation of Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) expression through the transcription factor Yin-Yang 1 (YY1) in non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma.

Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) is a member of the KLF transcription factor family, and evidence suggests that KLF4 is either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor. The regulatory mechanism underlying KLF4 expression in cancer, and specifically in lymphoma, is still not understood. Bioinformatics analysis revealed two YY1 putative binding sites in the KLF4 promoter region (-950 bp and -105 bp). Here, the potential regulation of KLF4 by YY1 in NHL was analyzed. Mutation of the putative YY1 binding sites in a previously reported system containing the KLF4 promoter region and CHIP analysis confirmed that these binding sites are important for KLF4 regulation. B-NHL cell lines showed that both KLF4 and YY1 are co-expressed, and transfection with siRNA-YY1 resulted in significant inhibition of KLF4. The clinical implications of YY1 in the transcriptional regulation of KLF4 were investigated by IHC in a TMA with 43 samples of subtypes DLBCL and FL, and all tumor tissues expressing YY1 demonstrated a correlation with KLF4 expression, which was consistent with bioinformatics analyses in several databases. Our findings demonstrated that KLF4 can be transcriptionally regulated by YY1 in B-NHL, and a correlation between YY1 expression and KLF4 was found in clinical samples. Hence, both YY1 and KLF4 may be possible therapeutic biomarkers of NHL.

Krüppel-like Factor 4 modulates interleukin-6 release in human dendritic cells after in vitro stimulation with Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans.

Invasive fungal infections are associated with high mortality rates and are mostly caused by the opportunistic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. Immune responses against these fungi are still not fully understood. Dendritic cells (DCs) are crucial players in initiating innate and adaptive immune responses against fungal infections. The immunomodulatory effects of fungi were compared to the bacterial stimulus LPS to determine key players in the immune response to fungal infections. A genome wide study of the gene regulation of human monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) confronted with A. fumigatus, C. albicans or LPS was performed and Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) was identified as the only transcription factor that was down-regulated in DCs by both fungi but induced by stimulation with LPS. Downstream analysis demonstrated the influence of KLF4 on the interleukine-6 expression in human DCs. Furthermore, KLF4 regulation was shown to be dependent on pattern recognition receptor ligation. Therefore KLF4 was identified as a controlling element in the IL-6 immune response with a unique expression pattern comparing fungal and LPS stimulation.

Shh mediates PDGF-induced contractile-to-synthetic phenotypic modulation in vascular smooth muscle cells through regulation of KLF4

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is known to induce phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from contractile to a pathological synthetic state, which played an essential role in proliferation of VSMCs. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) contributes to the proliferation of VSMCs when induced by PDGF. Here, we investigated the probable role of Shh in PDGF-induced VSMC dedifferentiation and its underlying mechanisms. We found that PDGF stimulated Shh expression in VSMCs, which was mediated by activation of PDGFRβ/ERK1/2 cell signaling pathway. Further, we found PDGF-induced VSMC phenotypic modulation was accompanied by up-regulation of Shh/Gli family zinc finger 2 (Gli2) signaling and Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4). When inhibited Shh in the presence of PDGF, the expressions of KLF4 and VSMC dedifferentiation markers were down-regulated and the effect of PDGF in inducing VSMC dedifferentiation was blocked. In the absence of PDGF, Shh signaling activation increased the expression of KLF4 and promoted VSMC dedifferentiation. The results indicate Shh participated in the regulation of PDGF-induced VSMC dedifferentiation. Finally, we found that KLF4 was closely involved in this process. On inhibition of KLF4, PDGF induced VSMC dedifferentiation was abrogated, even in the presence of Shh. Taken together, the results provide critical insights into the newly discovered role of Shh in phenotypic modulation of VSMCs which depends on KLF4.

KLF4 is downregulated but not mutated during human esophageal squamous cell carcinogenesis and has tumor stage-specific functions

ABSTRACTThe transcriptional regulator Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is decreased in human esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC), and Klf4 deletion in mice produces squamous cell dysplasia. Nonetheless the mechanisms of KLF4 downregulation in ESCC and the functions of KLF4 during ESCC development and progression are not well understood. Here, we sought to define the regulation of KLF4 and delineate the stage-specific effects of KLF4 in ESCC. We found that KLF4 expression was decreased in human ESCC and in 8 of 9 human ESCC cell lines. However, by genomic sequencing, we observed no KLF4 mutations or copy number changes in any of 52 human ESCC, suggesting other mechanisms for KLF4 silencing. In fact, KLF4 expression in human ESCC cell lines was increased by the DNA methylation inhibitor 5-azacytidine, suggesting an epigenetic mechanism for KLF4 silencing. Surprisingly, while KLF4 decreased in high-grade dysplasia and early stage tumors, KLF4 increased with advanced cancer stage, and KLF4 expression in ESCC was inversely correlated with survival. Interestingly, KLF4 promoted invasion of human ESCC cells, providing a functional link to the stage-specific expression of KLF4. Taken together, these findings suggest that KLF4 loss is necessary for esophageal tumorigenesis but that restored KLF4 expression in ESCC promotes tumor spread. Thus, the use of KLF4 as a diagnostic and therapeutic target in cancer requires careful consideration of context.

C/EBP-Homologous Protein (CHOP) in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Regulates Their Proliferation in Aortic Explants and Atherosclerotic Lesions.

Myeloid-derived C/EBP-homologous protein (CHOP), an effector of the endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced unfolded protein response, promotes macrophage apoptosis in advanced atherosclerosis, but the role of CHOP in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in atherosclerosis is not known. To investigate the role of CHOP in SM22α(+) VSMCs in atherosclerosis. Chop(fl/fl) mice were generated and crossed into the Apoe(-/-) and SM22α-CreKI(+) backgrounds. SM22α-CreKI causes deletion of floxed genes in adult SMCs. After 12 weeks of Western-type diet feeding, the content of α-actin-positive cells in aortic root lesions was decreased in Chop(fl/fl)SM22α-CreKI(+)Apoe(-/-) versus control Chop(fl/fl)Apoe(-/-) mice, and aortic explant-derived VSMCs from the VSMC-CHOP-deficient mice displayed reduced proliferation. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), a key suppressor of VSMC proliferation, was increased in lesions and aortic VSMCs from Chop(fl/fl)SM22α-CreKI(+)Apoe(-/-) mice, and silencing Klf4 in CHOP-deficient VSMCs restored proliferation. CHOP deficiency in aortic VSMCs increased KLF4 through 2 mechanisms mediated by the endoplasmic reticulum stress effector activating transcription factor 4: transcriptional induction of Klf4 mRNA and decreased proteasomal degradation of KLF4 protein. These findings in SM22α-CHOP-deficient mice imply that CHOP expression in SM22α(+) VSMCs promotes cell proliferation by downregulating KLF4. The mechanisms involve newly discovered roles of CHOP in the transcriptional and post-translational regulation of KLF4.

Krüppel-like Factor 4 (KLF4) Suppresses T-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia By Inhibiting Expression of MAP2K7 and Expansion of Leukemia Initiating Cells

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common hematological malignancy in children. Although risk-adaptive therapy, CNS-directed chemotherapy and supportive care have improved the survival of ALL patients, disease relapse is still the leading cause of cancer-related death in children. Therefore, new drugs or novel multi-drug combinations are needed as frontline treatments for high-risk patients and as salvage agents for relapsed disease. T-cell ALL (T-ALL) is a subset of ALL that exhibits activating mutations of NOTCH1 in more than 50% of the patients. However, the use of gamma-secretase inhibitors to reduce NOTCH1 activity has not been successful in patients due to limited response and toxicity. Therefore, identification of genetic factors that cooperate with T-ALL leukemogenesis is needed for the development of alternative therapies.KLF4 is a transcription factor that functions as a tumor suppressor or an oncogene depending on cellular context. Our data showed significant reduction of KLF4 transcripts in lymphoblasts from T-ALL patients compared to blood and bone marrow cells from healthy individuals. In consistent with reduced KLF4 levels, these patients exhibit hyper-methylation of CpG islands located between nt -811 and +1190 relative to KLF4 transcription start site. From these findings we hypothesized that KLF4 has tumor suppressor function in T-ALL leukemogenesis. To test our hypothesis, we transduced 5-FU treated bone marrow (BM) cells from control (Klf4fl/fl), Klf4 null (Klf4fl/fl; Vav-iCre) and Klf4 heterozygous (Klf4fl/+; Vav-iCre) mice with retrovirus carrying a NOTCH1 activating mutant (L1601P-ΔP) and then transplanted these BM cells into irradiated recipient mice. In contrast to controls, mice transplanted with transduced Klf4-null BM cells developed T-ALL with significantly higher penetrance (Klf4 null 76.5% v.s. control 21.3%) and shorter latency (Klf4 null 93 days v.s. control 130 days). Interestingly, Klf4 heterozygous group shows similar survival kinetics as Klf4 null group, suggesting that Klf4 haploinsufficiency is enough to accelerate onset of leukemia. To investigate the effect of Klf4 deletion in established leukemia cells, we transplanted NOTCH1 L1601P-ΔP transduced BM cells from Klf4fl/fl; CreER+ mice to induce leukemia. Post-transplantation deletion of the Klf4 gene by tamoxifen administration was able to accelerate T-ALL development compared to mice injected with vehicle. On the cellular level, loss of KLF4 led to increased proliferation of leukemia cells as assessed by in vivo BrdU incorporation, which correlated with decreased levels of p21 protein. Limited dilution transplantation of primary leukemia cells into secondary recipients showed a 9-fold increase of leukemia initiating cells (LIC) frequency in Klf4null leukemia cells compared to controls, suggesting that KLF4 controls expansion of LIC in T-ALL.To elucidate molecular mechanism underlying KLF4 regulation in T-ALL cells, we performed microarray and ChIP-Seq in control and Klf4 null CD4+CD8+ leukemia cells. Combined analyses revealed 202 genes as KLF4 direct targets, of which 11 genes are also deregulated in human T-ALL cells by comparing with published microarray datasets. One of the top upregulated genes is Map2k7, which encodes a kinase upstream of the JNK pathway. Immunoblots in leukemia cells confirmed increased expression of MAP2K7 protein and enhanced phosphorylation of its downstream targets JNK and ATF2. To further investigate the role of JNK pathway in T-ALL, we tested JNK inhibitor SP600125 in human T-ALL cell lines (KOPTK1, DND41, CCRF-CEM, MOLT3). Interestingly, SP600125 showed dose-dependent cytotoxicity in all human T-ALL cell lines tested regardless of their NOTCH1 status.Overall our results showed for the first time that KLF4 functions as a tumor suppressor in T-ALL by regulating proliferation of leukemia cells and frequency of LIC. Additional study elucidated that KLF4 suppresses the JNK pathway via direct transcriptional regulation of MAP2K7. Moreover, the vulnerability of human T-ALL cell lines to JNK inhibition provides a novel target for future therapy in T-ALL patients. DisclosuresNo relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Krüppel-Like Factor 4 Regulates Blood-Tumor Barrier Permeability via ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-5

Blood-tumor barrier (BTB) constitutes an efficient organization of tight junctions which significantly reduce permeability for chemotherapy drugs. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), a member of the Krüppel-like family, has been documented in endothelial cells and may serve as an essential regulator of endothelial barrier function. However, our knowledge about the expression and function of KLF4 in the endothelial cells of BTB still remains unclear. In this study, we sought to investigate the role of KLF4 in regulation of BTB function as well as the potential molecular mechanisms. Quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays demonstrated that KLF4 was down-regulated in the glioma endothelial cells (GECs) which were obtained through endothelial cells co-cultured with glioma cells. Short hairpin RNA targeting KLF4 impaired the integrity of BTB detected by trans-endothelial electric resistance assay, and meanwhile reduced the expression of ZO-1, occludin and claudin-5, demonstrated by quantitative RT-PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays. Depletion of KLF4 increased BTB permeability to small molecules detected by permeability assays. Furthermore, luciferase assays and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that KLF4 up-regulated the promoter activities and interacted with "CACCC" DNA sequence presented in the promoters of ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-5. GATA-1, GATA-6, Sp1, and Sp3 factors participated in KLF4 regulation of promoter activities through binding to the promoters of tight junctions related proteins. Collectively, our results indicated that KLF4 is a key transcriptional regulator of BTB function by regulating expressions of tight junction related proteins, which would draw growing attention to KLF4 as a potential target for glioma therapy.

Yin Yang 1 (YY1) Regulates The Transcription Of The Gene Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) In Pediatric Burkitt Lymphoma: Clinical Implications

Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a member of the KLF zinc-finger containing transcription factor family. Supporting evidence has established that KLF4 is either an oncogene or a tumor suppressor. Reported studies have indicated the involvement of KLF4 in the regulation of apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation of B cells and B-cell malignancies. In contrast to adult lymphomas and solid tumors, recently, we have shown in a TMA the overexpression of KLF4 in pediatric NHL tumor tissues. The KLF4 overexpresion predicted unresponsiveness to CHOP treatment. In addition, we have also reported that the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is overexpressed in B-NHL and is a prognostic factor. We hypothesized that the coexpression of KLF4 and YY1 may result from the transcriptional regulation of KLF4 by YY1. This hypothesis was tested in various experimental designs both in cell lines and tumor tissues derived from patients. Analysis of the B-NHL cell line Ramos revealed that both KLF4 and YY1 are overexpressed compared to normal B cells. The transfection of Ramos with siRNA YY1 showed significant inhibition of KLF4. In silico analyses of the KLF4 promoter identified the presence of four putative binding sites for YY1. We confirmed that the -126 site as the binding site for YY1 by CHIP analysis. We also used a reporter system of the KLF4 promoter and mutated the putative binding site for YY1 (-126) and confirmed it as an important site for the regulation of KLF4. The co-expressions of KLF4 and YY1 were examined in TMA of pediatric lymphomas and showed by IHC that all of the tumor tissues exhibited a positive correlation of the expressions of KLF4 and YY1 and the correlation was markedly significant in the Burkitt subtype. These correlations were consistent with the bioinformatics analyses due by ONCOMINE in several data base. KLF4 acts as a transcriptional activator of epithelial genes and as a repressor of mesenchymal genes. In addition, KLF4 suppresses the extrinsic apoptotic pathway by inhibiting the activation and cleavage of caspases (7, 9, and 3). Thus, the overexpression of KLF4 in lymphoma may be responsible, in part, in the pathogenesis, malignancy, and drug resistance. The putative function of KLF4 was examined by the use of chemical inhibitors for KLF4 (Kenpaullone) and inhibition of KLF4 resulted in the inhibition of cell proliferation and the spontaneous induction of apoptosis. The present findings suggest that both KLF4 and YY1 are prognostic biomarkers for pediatric lymphoma and are also potential therapeutic targets. Disclosures:No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Induction of Krüppel-like factor 4 expression in reactive astrocytes following ischemic injury in vitro and in vivo

Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcription factor with diverse and cell type-specific functions and is associated with a variety of pathophysiological processes. Recently, it has been proposed that the regulation of KLF4 is critical to neuronal differentiation and that neural progenitors overexpressing KLF4 take on a glial identity. The present study aimed to determine whether KLF4 is involved in the astroglial reaction induced by ischemia-reperfusion injury in the brain. No specific KLF4 immunoreactivity was observed in resting astrocytes of the control hippocampus, but significant induction was detected in reactive astrocytes preferentially located in the CA1 and dentate hilar regions of the hippocampus following transient forebrain ischemia. Astroglial KLF4 expression was induced in the nuclei and cytoplasm within 3days of ischemia and persisted for at least 4weeks. This pattern was reproduced in an in vitro astrogliosis model of rat primary cortical astrocytes exposed to oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). Furthermore, immunoblot assay showed that nuclear and cytosolic extracts from cortical astrocytes subjected to OGD had significantly higher levels of KLF4 protein compared to normoxic extracts. Thus, our data demonstrate that KLF4 expression was induced in astroglia by ischemic injury both in vivo and in vitro, suggesting that KLF4 may act as a transcription factor linked to the regulation of the astroglial reaction following ischemic injury.

Abstract 5450: High expression of Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) and its regulation by Yin Yang 1 (YY1) in non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphomas: clinical implication.

Abstract Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) is a group of different kinds of cancer rising on the basis of monoclonal expansion of B and T Lymphocytes. Over 90% of NHL has its origin in B lymphocytes. The causes of NHL are poorly understood. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common lymphoma in adults, and Burkitt s lymphoma are highly aggressive forms of NHL. It is of interest to characterize diverse transcription factors that are involved in the development of lymphoid progenitors because of their potential therapeutic applications. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a member of the KLF zinc-finger-containing transcription factor family. Evidence has established KLF4 as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor. Recent studies indicated the involvement of KLF4 in the regulation of apoptosis, proliferation, and differentiation of B cells and B-cell malignancies. By using a Tissue Micro Array (TMA), we have recently shown that NHLs have high expression of KLF4. The underlying mechanisms of the regulation of the expression of KLF4 in NHL are not yet understood. We have performed a bioinformatics analysis of the KLF4 promoter region and found that the transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) has putative binding sites on the KLF4 promoter, thus, hypothesizing the potential regulation of KLF4 by means of YY1 in NHL. This hypothesis was tested by various means: (1) In silico analyses by the CHIP (Chromatin Immunoprecipitation) experimental technique demonstrated that the KLF4 promoter contains four putative binding sites for YY1. We confirmed that the -126 site was a binding site for YY1 by CHIP analysis. (2) Using a reporter system with the KLF4 promoter, we have found that mutation of the putative binding site for YY1 (at -126) inhibited KLF4 expression and (3) Treatment of the Ramos cell line with siRNA for YY1 resulted in dowregulation of KLF4 expression. The clinical implication of YY1 in the transcriptional regulation of KLF4 was correlated by IHC in a TMA with 73 B-NHL samples and by western in B-NHL cell lines. The analyses showed that, in all of the tumor tissues, KLF4 expression had a positive correlation with YY1 expression and this correlation was markedly observed in the Burkitt subtype. Overall, our findings demonstrated that KLF4 can be transcriptionally regulated by YY1 in B-NHL. Previous findings demonstrated that YY1 regulates drug resistance in many cancers including B-NHL. Hence, the present findings suggest that both KLF4 and YY1 are prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets in NHL. Citation Format: Mario I. Vega, Alberto Valencia-Hipolito, Miriam Hernandez-Atenogenes, Gabriel G. Vega, Hector Mayani, Alfonso Mendez-Tenorio, Otoniel Martinez-Maza, Sara Huerta-Yepez, Benjamin Bonavida. High expression of Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) and its regulation by Yin Yang 1 (YY1) in non-Hodgkin's B-cell lymphomas: clinical implication. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 5450. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-5450

Abstract 295: PPARγ-induced KLF4 in regulation of cell growth and migration in human hepatoma cells.

Abstract Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common cancers worldwide. Recently, a zinc finger transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) was found to be reduced in tumors of HCC patients. Additionally, results from our laboratory showed that overexpressed KLF4 repressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and cell motility by induction of E-cadherin expression and reduction of EMT markers in hepatoma cells. Interestingly, it has been found that PPARγ agonists upregulated KLF4 in colorectal cancer cells. However, the mechanism of PPARγ-induced KLF4 in the EMT process of HCC remains unclear. In this study, Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5, and Mahlavu human hepatoma cells were treated with PPARγ agonists rosiglitazone, troglitazone, and PPARγ antagonist GW9662, respectively. After rosiglitazone or troglitazone treatment for various time periods, growth inhibition was observed in both Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5 cells at 48 hours by surforhodamine B assay. Mahlavu cells showed less response to rosiglitazone and troglitazone treatment as compared to the other two cell lines. However, pretreatment of GW9662, a PPARγ antagonist, prior to PPARγ agonists treatment did not block the PPARγ agonists-induced cell growth inhibition. Moreover, cotreatment of PPARγ agonist and antagonist showed additive growth inhibition effect. In addition, rosiglitazone and troglitazone inhibited the migration of Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5 and Mahlavu cells differentially in transwell assay. Western blotting analysis showed upregulation of KLF4 and E-cadherin in Hep3B and PLC/PRF/5 cells after rosiglitazone and troglitazone treatment. Interestingly, decreased KLF4 and E-cadherin were observed in Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5, and Mahlavu cells after GW9662 treatment, indicating that the regulation of KLF4 and E-cadherin were PPARγ-dependent. Moreover, GW9662 also inhibited cell migration of Hep3B, PLC/PRF/5, and Mahlavu cells, with a concomitant decrease of vimentin. These results together suggested that PPARγ agonists and antagonist not only inhibited the growth but also decreased migration of hepatoma cells. Modulation of the PPARγ agonists induced expression of KLF4 and E-cadherin played important role in migration of hepatoma cells. Citation Format: Hui-Tzu Hsu, Ming-Ta Sung, Chin-Wen Chi. PPARγ-induced KLF4 in regulation of cell growth and migration in human hepatoma cells. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 295. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-295

Peroxisome Proliferator-activated Receptor γ Agonists Induce Cell Cycle Arrest through Transcriptional Regulation of Krüppel-like Factor 4 (KLF4)

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ), a subgroup of ligand-activated nuclear receptors, plays critical roles in cell cycle regulation, differentiation, apoptosis, and invasion. PPARγ is involved in tumorigenesis and is a potent target for cancer therapy. PPARγ transactivation of KLF4 has been demonstrated in various studies; however, how PPARγ regulates KLF4 expression is not clear. In this study, we reveal that PPARγ regulates the expression of KLF4 by binding directly to the PPAR response element (PPRE) within the KLF4 promoter. The PPRE resides at -1657 to -1669 bp upstream of the KLF4 ATG codon, which is essential for the transactivation of troglitazone-induced KLF4 expression. Furthermore, we found that stable silencing of KLF4 obviously suppressed the G(1)/S arrest and anti-proliferation effects induced by PPARγ ligands. Taken together, our data indicate that up-regulation of KLF4 upon PPARγ activation is mediated through the PPRE in the KLF4 promoter, thus providing further insights into the PPARγ signal transduction pathway as well as a novel cancer therapeutic strategy.

Abstract 4582: Regulation of Krüppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) expressions via Yin Yang 1 (YY1) in B Non-Hodgkin's Lymphomas (B-NHLs): KLF4 upregulation is associated with unfavorable overall survival in pediatric B-NHL

Abstract Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcription factor expressed in a variety of tissues in humans and has been implicated in several physiologic processes including development, differentiation, and tissue homeostasis. KLF4 is a bi-functional and can either activate or repress transcription depending on the target gene. For instance, KLF4 acts as a tumor suppressor gene (colon, gastric, esophageal, bladder, and NSCLC) or as an oncogene (laryngeal carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, ductal carcinoma of the breast). However, the role of KLF4 in hematological malignancies is still poorly understood. Studies in leukemia suggest that KLF4 may be a tumor suppressor. The goal of this study was to investigate the expression and the clinical significance of KLF4 in B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (B-NHLs). Both B-NHL cell lines and patient-derived tumor tissues (TMA) were examined by western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC), respectively. Using IHC, the expression of KLF4 was calculated based on the intensity and percentage of the area stained, and scoring was corroborated by two pathologists. The complete absence of KLF4 expression was considered as negative. A significant overexpression of KLF4 in Ramos and Raji (Burkitt's lymphoma) and 2F7 (AIDS lymphoma) B-NHL cell lines. However, the DHL4 (DBLCL) cell line showed a level of similar to that seen in normal cells. Among the 73 childhood lymphomas studied, 13/23 (57%) of lymphoblastic lymphoma, 7/20 (35%) of large B-cell lymphoma, 4/4 (100%) of anaplastic large cell lymphoma and 5/6 (83%) NHL not specified were KLF4 positive. Notably, 20/20 (100%) Burkitt's lymphoma were KLF4 positive. Nuclear expression of KLF4 was significantly higher in Burkitt's lymphoma (90%) compared to the remaining subtypes. The 3-year event-free survival rate (EFS) for the whole cohort was 67% (43% to 79%) compared to 23% (13% to 38%) in those who has tumors that were KLF4 positive, (p< 0.05). Multivariate analyses confirmed the association of KLF4 expression with unfavorable overall survival (OS; P<.005). Previous findings demonstrated overexpression of the transcription factor YY1 in B-NHL. In silico analysis of the KLF4 promoter identified the presence of four putative binding sites for YY1. We confirmed that –126 and –298 sites were binding sites for YY1 by ChIP analyses. The transcriptional regulation of KLF4 by YY1 was demonstrated following transfection with YY1 siRNA. We also found a positive correlation between the expression of YY1 and KLF4 in the NHL tissues, suggesting that YY1 regulates KLF4 in vivo. The present findings suggest that KLF4 may be considered as an oncogene in Burkitt's lymphoma, and in certain subsets of other types of lymphoma, and that KLF4 may be a potential prognostic factor. We propose that KLF4 may be a therapeutic target in patients with B-NHL. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4582. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4582

TGF-β1 Downregulates AT1 Receptor Expression via PKC-δ-Mediated Sp1 Dissociation From KLF4 and Smad-Mediated PPAR-γ Association With KLF4

Cardiovascular effects of angiotensin II are primarily mediated via the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1R). Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4), a transcription factor that binds to the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β control element (TCE), regulates a variety of receptor expression in vascular smooth muscle cells. In the present study, we investigated the mechanisms of TGF-β-mediated KLF4 regulation of AT1R expression. Coimmunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase assays were performed, with the results suggesting that Sp1 forms a complex with KLF4 bound to the TCE of the AT1R promoter and cooperatively activates AT1R transcription in vascular smooth muscle cells under basal conditions. On activation of TGF-β1 signaling, Sp1 is dissociated from the KLF4-Sp1 complex through PKC-δ-mediated KLF4 phosphorylation at Thr401, downregulating AT1R expression. Simultaneously, TGF-β1 facilitates KLF4-PPAR-γ complex formation and its binding to the TCE of the AT1R promoter through Smad-mediated KLF4 phosphorylation at Ser470, subsequently leading to inhibition of AT1R transcription. KLF4 functions as a protein platform that is able to bind to the TCE of the AT1R promoter. On activation of TGF-β signaling, KLF4 mediates Sp1 dissociation from, and PPAR-γ association with, the AT1R promoter, leading to downregulation of AT1R expression in VSMCs.

Down-regulation of Krüppel-like Factor-4 (KLF4) by MicroRNA-143/145 Is Critical for Modulation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Phenotype by Transforming Growth Factor-β and Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4

In the postnatal vasculature, fully differentiated and quiescent vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in a "contractile" phenotype are required for the normal regulation of vascular tone. The transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) superfamily of growth factors (TGF-βs and bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs)) are potent inducers of contractile phenotype and mediate (i) induction of contractile genes, and (ii) inhibition of VSMC growth and migration. Transcription of contractile genes is positively regulated by a regulatory DNA element called a CArG box. The CArG box is activated by the binding of serum response factor and its coactivators, myocardin (Myocd) or Myocd-related transcription factors (MRTFs). Krüppel-like factor-4 (KLF4) is known to inhibit activation of the CArG box. However, the potential role of KLF4 in the contractile activities of TGF-β or BMP has not been explored. Here, we demonstrate that TGF-β and BMP4 rapidly down-regulate KLF4 through induction of microRNA-143 (miR-143) and miR-145, which leads to a reduction of KLF4 transcripts and decreased KLF4 protein expression. Inhibition of miR-145 prevents down-regulation of KLF4 and activation of contractile genes by TGF-β or BMP4, suggesting that modulation of KLF4 is a prerequisite for induction of contractile genes by TGF-β and BMP4. Interestingly, both TGF-β and BMP4 activate transcription of the miR-143/145 gene cluster through the CArG box, however, TGF-β mediates this effect through induction of Myocd expression, whereas BMP4 utilizes nuclear translocation of MRTF-A. Thus, this study sheds light on both the similarities and the differences of TGF-β and BMP4 signaling in the regulation of KLF4 and contractile genes.

Identification of a Translational Control Element Involved in KLF4 Posttranscriptional Regulation

Krüppel‐like factor 4 (KLF4) is a transcription factor regulating cell growth and differentiation. An important feature of KLF4 is its induction upon growth‐arrest in normal cells. In cancer cells this regulation is disrupted, as proliferating cancer cells show increased levels of KLF4 compared with primary epithelial cells. However, the mechanisms regulating the induction of KLF4 upon growth arrest in normal cells or its upregulation in cancer cells remain largely unclear. We recapitulated the proliferation‐dependent regulation of KLF4 using E1A‐immortalized rat kidney epithelial cells, RK3E cells. In these cells, the endogenous Klf4 RNA and protein was low in proliferating cells but high in post‐confluent cells that underwent a process similar to epithelial differentiation, with upregulation of cell cycle inhibitors such as p21/Waf1 and p27/Kip1. To map potential regulatory elements in KLF4 transcripts, we established an assay system by inserting full‐length or partial‐length fragments of human KLF4 cDNA into the 3′ UTR of firefly luciferase. By measurement of luciferase mRNA and protein levels, we successfully identified a novel, cell‐cycle‐dependent translational‐control element (TCE) in KLF4. This element mediates translational inhibition in proliferating cells. Current studies are focused on possible factors that can bind to TCE and regulate KLF4 expression.

KLF4 is a novel regulator of the constitutively expressed HSP90

Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc finger-containing transcription factor with diverse regulatory functions in cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. But little is known about the regulation of KLF4 on the expression of HSP90 (HSP84 and HSP86). In the current study, overexpression of KLF4 was firstly identified to promote the basal expression of HSP90 (HSP84 and HSP86) but not the inducible expression in the C2C12 cells and RAW264.7 cells. Conversely, KLF4 inhibition by antisense oligonucleotides markedly decreased the constitutive expression of HSP90 (HSP84 and HSP86). Here, we also presented data that overexpression of KLF4 resulted in enhanced promoter activities of HSP84. Consistently, KLF4 bind to the KLF4 binding sites in the promoter regions of HSP84 directly. Together, these findings support a role for KLF4 as a novel regulator of the constitutive expression of HSP90.

KLF4 regulation in intestinal epithelial cell maturation

The Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) transcription factor suppresses tumorigenesis in gastrointestinal epithelium. Thus, its expression is decreased in gastric and colon cancers. Moreover, KLF4 regulates both differentiation and growth that is likely fundamental to its tumor suppressor activity. We dissected the expression of Klf4 in the normal mouse intestinal epithelium along the crypt–villus and cephalo-caudal axes. Klf4 reached its highest level in differentiated cells of the villus, with levels in the duodenum > jejunum > ileum, in inverse relation to the representation of goblet cells in these regions, the lineage previously linked to KLF4. In parallel, in vitro studies using HT29cl.16E and Caco2 colon cancer cell lines clarified that KLF4 increased coincident with differentiation along both the goblet and absorptive cell lineages, respectively, and that KLF4 levels also increased during differentiation induced by the short chain fatty acid butyrate, independently of cell fate. Moreover, we determined that lower levels of KLF4 expression in the proliferative compartment of the intestinal epithelium are regulated by the transcription factors TCF4 and SOX9, an effector and a target, respectively, of β-catenin/Tcf signaling, and independently of CDX2. Thus, reduced levels of KLF4 tumor suppressor activity in colon tumors may be driven by elevated β-catenin/Tcf signaling.