Endothelial expression of transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 and its vasoprotective target genes in the normal and cirrhotic rat liver

This study shows an increase in the expression of the vasoprotective transcription factor KLF2 in the cirrhotic liver, accompanied by an activation of its downstream transcriptional programmes. These data suggest that the marked increase in KLF2 expression may represent an endothelial compensatory mechanism to improve the ongoing vascular dysfunction in the cirrhotic liver.