Occurrence and significance of the nuclear transcription factor Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in the vessel wall

Abstract

Practically all mammalian cells including human can switch, according to micro- or macroenvironmental conditions, from states of cellular quiescence to inflammatory activation and vice versa. Along with recent knowledge, cellular quiescence is not a passive, but a highly active state with broad engagement of the cell synthetic and secretory machinery.

Inflammatory activation is a beneficial process in cases of infection; however, if its control fails, it may degrade into autoimmune diseases or cancer growth. Control over cellular quiescence is exerted predominantly by a set of zincfinger transcription proteins, referred to as Krüppel-like factors (KLFs).

This review article offers recent information concerning activities of Krüppel-like factor 4 in the vascular wall.