Krüppel-like factors and vascular wall homeostasis. (23rd August 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Fan, Yanbo; Lu, Haocheng; Liang, Wenying; Hu, Wenting; Zhang, Jifeng; Chen, Y Eugene
• Is Part Of: Journal of molecular cell biology. Volume 9:Number 5(2017:Oct.)
• Page Start: 352
• Page End: 363
• Publication Date: 2017-08-23
• Subjects: endothelial cells -- vascular smooth muscle cells -- inflammation -- shear stress -- atherosclerosis -- vascular injury -- drug development; Molecular biology -- Periodicals; 571.605
• DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjx037
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1674-2788

Abstract

Abstract: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major causes of death worldwide. Identification of promising targets for prevention and treatment of CVDs is paramount in the cardiovascular field. Numerous transcription factors regulate cellular function through modulation of specific genes and thereby are involved in the physiological and pathophysiological processes of CVDs. Although Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) have a similar protein structure with a conserved zinc finger domain, they possess distinct tissue and cell distribution patterns as well as biological functions. In the vascular system, KLF activities are regulated at both transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels. Growing in vitro, in vivo, and genetic epidemiology studies suggest that specific KLFs play important roles in vascular wall biology, which further affect vascular diseases. KLFs regulate various functional aspects such as cell growth, differentiation, activation, and development through controlling a whole cluster of functionally related genes and modulating various signaling pathways in response to pathological conditions. Therapeutic targeting of selective KLF family members may be desirable to achieve distinct treatment effects in the context of various vascular diseases. Further elucidation of the association of KLFs with human CVDs, their underlying molecular mechanisms, and precise protein structure studies will be essential to define KLFs as promising targets for therapeutic interventions in CVDs.