Yan Fang-fang, Liu Yun-Fang, Liu Yan, Zhao Yu-Xia
The Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Remodeling and Function Research, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Chinese Ministry of Education and Chinese Ministry of Public Health, Jinan, Shandong 250012, PR China.
Med Hypotheses. 2008;70(4):845-7. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2007.07.031. Epub 2007 Sep 14.
Atherosclerosis is an inflammatory disease characterized by a large amount of hyperproliferation and poorly differentiated or undifferentiated smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic plaque. Cancer cells differ from normal cells in many aspects, including hyperproliferation and loss of differentiation. So the research on tumor may shed light on the treatment of atherosclerosis. Given that Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) has an important function in tumor development and progression, it may be associated with the formation and development of atherosclerosis. Recently, KLF4 expression has been documented in vascular endothelial cells. KLF4, which is normally not expressed in differentiated SMC in vivo, was rapidly up-regulated in response to vascular injury. In addition, KLF4 is a critical regulator in macrophage activation. Endothelial dysfunction, macrophage activation and VSMC phenotype switching are critical component elements in development of atherosclerosis. Herein we hypothesize that KLF4 is an important regulator in different phase of atherosclerosis and may be a novel target of prevention and cure of atherosclerosis. Further investigation is needed to approach the concrete signaling pathways about KLF4.
动脉粥样硬化是一种炎症性疾病，其特征是动脉粥样硬化斑块中存在大量过度增殖且分化不良或未分化的平滑肌细胞。癌细胞在许多方面与正常细胞不同，包括过度增殖和分化丧失。因此，对肿瘤的研究可能为动脉粥样硬化的治疗提供线索。鉴于 Kruppel 样因子 4（KLF4）在肿瘤发生和发展中具有重要作用，它可能与动脉粥样硬化的形成和发展有关。最近，已在血管内皮细胞中记录到 KLF4 的表达。KLF4 在体内正常分化的平滑肌细胞中通常不表达，但在血管损伤时会迅速上调。此外，KLF4 是巨噬细胞激活的关键调节因子。内皮功能障碍、巨噬细胞激活和平滑肌细胞表型转换是动脉粥样硬化发展的关键组成要素。在此，我们假设 KLF4 是动脉粥样硬化不同阶段的重要调节因子，可能是动脉粥样硬化防治的新靶点。需要进一步研究以探讨关于 KLF4 的具体信号通路。
