Protective Effects of Krüppel- Like Factor 4 against Cardiovascular Disease

Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc-finger transcription factor implicated in cellular differentiation and proliferation in multiple cell types. Results of recent studies have shown that KLF4 is expressed in the heart and the vasculature, and it plays a key role in the development and progression of cardiovascular diseases. For example, KLF4 inhibits cardiac hypertrophy in multiple murine models. Loss of endothelial Klf4 in mice results in enhanced atherosclerotic lesion formation. Moreover, deletion of the Klf4 gene accelerates neointimal formation following vascular injury. This article succinctly reviews the functions of KLF4 in cardiovascular diseases.