Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:Q9UID6 (Kruppel-like)
 147 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) is the central event in the development of liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. The transdifferentiation process of quiescent into activated HSCs requires a complete reprogramming in gene expression, which is governed by modulation of transcriptional activators or repressors. Using microarray analysis to identify genes differentially expressed during the activation process of human HSCs, zinc finger protein 267 (ZNF267) mRNA was up-regulated in activated HSCs and in cirrhotic human liver. ZNF267 belongs to the family of Kruppel-like zinc fingers and contains a conserved KRAB (Kruppel associated box) A and B domain in the N-terminal part outside the C-terminal region of zinc fingers. ZNF267 constructs containing enhanced cyan fluorescence protein were constitutively localized in the nucleus. When fused to GAL4 DNA binding domain, full-length ZNF267 and all constructs encompassing KRAB A domain showed transcriptional repressor activity. Microarray analysis and RNase protection assays showed that ZNF267 represses MMP-10 gene expression, which was confirmed by reporter gene assays. Furthermore, ZNF267 binds to the MMP-10 promoter region as demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. In conclusion, our results suggest that ZNF267 as a negative transcriptional regulator of MMP-10 might promote liver fibrogenesis through alteration of matrix degradation in vivo.
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PMID:Zinc finger protein 267 is up-regulated during the activation process of human hepatic stellate cells and functions as a negative transcriptional regulator of MMP-10. 1605 93

Zinc finger protein 267 (ZNF267) belongs to the family of Kruppel-like transcription factors, which regulates diverse biological processes that include development, proliferation, and differentiation. We have previously demonstrated that ZNF267 mRNA is up-regulated in liver cirrhosis, which is the main risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we analyzed the expression of ZNF267 in human HCC cells and tissue specimens and found a significant up-regulation compared to primary human hepatocytes and corresponding non-tumorous liver tissue. Over-expression of the transcription factor Ets-1 further enhanced ZNF267 expression, and reporter gene assays revealed that mutation of the Ets-1 binding site to the ZNF267 promotor markedly inhibited ZNF267 promotor activity. Hypoxic conditions induced Ets-1 in HCC cells via HIF1alpha activation, and hypoxia induced ZNF267 expression while HIF1alpha inhibition significantly reduced both hypoxia-induced as well as basal ZNF267 expression in HCC cells. It is known that hypoxic conditions in tumorous tissues induce the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and ROS have been identified as important factor in the regulation of Ets-1 expression in tumor cells. Here, we found that ROS induction induced and ROS scavenging reduced ZNF267 expression in HCC cells, respectively. Loss and gain of function analysis applying siRNA directed against ZNF267 or transient transfection revealed that ZNF267 promotes proliferation and migration of HCC cells in vitro. These findings indicate Ets-1 and HIF1alpha as critical regulators of basal and hypoxia- or ROS-induced ZNF267 expression in HCC, and further suggest that the pro-tumorigenic effect of these factors is at least in part mediated via increased ZNF267 expression in HCC. Since ZNF267 is already elevated in cirrhosis, ZNF267 appears as promising target for both prevention as well as treatment of HCC in patients with chronic liver disease.
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PMID:Zinc finger protein 267 is up-regulated in hepatocellular carcinoma and promotes tumor cell proliferation and migration. 2184 Mar 7

Hepatocellular lipid accumulation is a hallmark of non-alcoholicfatty liver disease (NAFLD), which encompasses a spectrum ranging from simple steatosis to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and ultimately cirrhosis. Zinc finger protein 267 (ZNF267) belongs to the family of Kruppel-like transcription factors, which regulate diverse biological processes that include development, proliferation, and differentiation. We have previously demonstrated that ZNF267 expression is up-regulated in liver cirrhosis and is further increased in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Here, we analyzed the expression of ZNF267 in tissue specimens of NAFLD patients and found a significant up-regulation compared to normal liver tissue. Noteworthy, ZNF267 mRNA was already significantly increased in steatotic liver tissue without inflammation. In line with this, incubation of primary human hepatocytes with palmitic acid induced a dose-dependent lipid accumulation and corresponding dose-dependent ZNF267 induction in vitro. Furthermore, hepatocellular lipid accumulation induced formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and also chemically induced ROS formation increased ZNF267 mRNA expression. In summary with previous findings, which revealed ZNF267 as pro-fibrogenic and pro-cancerogenic factor in chronic liver disease, the present study further suggests ZNF267 as promising therapeutic target particularly for NAFLD patients. In addition, it further indicates that hepatic steatosis per se has pathophysiological relevance and should not be considered as benign.
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PMID:Increased expression of zinc finger protein 267 in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. 2207 66