Dual Roles of Kruppel-Like Factor 4 as a Tumor Suppressor or Oncogene

摘要

Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) have been reported to have important roles in several cellular functions, including carcinogenesis. Recently, KLF4, a member of the KLF family, has been shown to be involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and migration. By regulating target genes and mediating the cell-signaling pathway, KLF4 acts as an oncogene or a tumor suppressor in a tissue-dependent manner. In this review, we summarize the dual roles of KLF4 as an opposing tumor regulator and focus on the mechanism of KLF4 in carcinogenesis. We discuss that some primary regulators, such as cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 1 (p21), might function as a switch that determines the outcome of KLF4 signaling. We also explore a clinical therapy strategy based on the systemic inactivation of KLF4 along with other factors to affect tumorigenesis both positively and negatively as a function of the genetic context.