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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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KLF12
KLF transcription factor 12
Chromosome 13 · 13q22.1
NCBI Gene: 11278Ensembl: ENSG00000118922.20HGNC: HGNC:6346UniProt: Q8WWI3
82PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transcription Factor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
negative regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase IIRNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA bindingDNA-binding transcription repressor activity, RNA polymerase II-specificDNA bindingatrial fibrillationrestless legs syndromemathematical abilityCOVID-19
✦AI Summary

KLF12 is a sequence-specific transcriptional repressor that binds DNA and regulates gene expression through RNA polymerase II-dependent mechanisms. It functions as a zinc-finger transcription factor with demonstrated repressive activity toward multiple target genes including AP-2-alpha, L1CAM, galectin-1, and genes involved in inflammatory pathways 123. Mechanistically, KLF12 exerts its effects through direct promoter binding and transcriptional suppression. Its activity is regulated post-translationally by the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM27, which ubiquitinates KLF12 at K326, modulating its transcriptional capacity 1. KLF12 also participates in regulatory loops involving long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs that control its stability and expression 45. Disease relevance spans multiple malignancies. KLF12 downregulation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma promotes cisplatin resistance and metastasis through L1CAM upregulation 1. In immunotherapy contexts, KLF12 suppresses CD8+ T cell infiltration and function by repressing galectin-1, contributing to anti-PD-1 resistance 2. Conversely, in ovarian cancer, elevated KLF12 promotes cell proliferation and metastasis 5. KLF12 was identified as a frequent HPV integration site in cervical cancer 6. In airway inflammation, KLF12 suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, and pyroptosis via NF-κB pathway inhibition 3. Clinically, KLF12 represents a potential therapeutic target across multiple cancer types and inflammatory diseases.

Sources cited
1
KLF12 acts as transcriptional repressor of L1CAM; downregulation promotes cisplatin resistance and metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; TRIM27 ubiquitinates KLF12 at K326
PMID: 38924996
2
KLF12 participates in regulatory pathway involving lncRNA-PACERR and miR-671-3p in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma; KLF12 recruits EP300 for histone acetylation
PMID: 35526050
3
KLF12 is transcriptional inhibitor that represses galectin-1 expression by binding its promoter; suppresses CD8+ T cell infiltration and function; associated with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy resistance
PMID: 37586772
4
KLF12 is frequent HPV integration site in cervical cancer (7.8% of integration breakpoints identified in cervical intraepithelial neoplasias and carcinomas)
PMID: 25581428
5
KLF12 inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, pyroptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress in airway epithelial cells through NF-κB pathway inactivation
PMID: 39938687
6
miR-650 suppresses KLF12 expression in ovarian cancer; KLF12 upregulation promotes cell viability, migration, and invasion; miR-650/KLF12 axis regulates ovarian cancer cell properties
PMID: 36272152
Disease Associationsⓘ20
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.53Moderate
restless legs syndromeOpen Targets
0.50Moderate
mathematical abilityOpen Targets
0.42Moderate
COVID-19Open Targets
0.39Weak
Hashimoto's thyroiditisOpen Targets
0.36Weak
schizophreniaOpen Targets
0.36Weak
movement disorderOpen Targets
0.34Weak
Abnormality of the gastrointestinal tractOpen Targets
0.34Weak
acute tonsillitisOpen Targets
0.32Weak
poisoningOpen Targets
0.32Weak
pathological myopiaOpen Targets
0.32Weak
oropharynx cancerOpen Targets
0.32Weak
Abnormality of refractionOpen Targets
0.32Weak
severe acute respiratory syndromeOpen Targets
0.32Weak
retinopathyOpen Targets
0.31Weak
respiratory system diseaseOpen Targets
0.31Weak
obesityOpen Targets
0.30Weak
ankylosing spondylitisOpen Targets
0.29Weak
Parkinson diseaseOpen Targets
0.29Weak
brain aneurysmOpen Targets
0.29Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
H2BK1Shared pathway100%H2BW2Shared pathway100%ZCWPW2Shared pathway100%MSL3BShared pathway100%CDYL2Shared pathway100%ZNF618Shared pathway100%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Heart
100%
Liver
78%
Brain
72%
Bone Marrow
54%
Ovary
46%
Lung
34%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
KLF12H2BK1H2BW2ZCWPW2MSL3BCDYL2ZNF618
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt Q8WWI3
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.40Moderately Constrained
pLIⓘ
1.00Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.20 [0.11–0.40]
RankingsWhere KLF12 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #5,803of 20,598
    Most Researched82
  • #1,987of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.40 · top quartile
Genes detectedKLF12
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
KLF12 interacts with TRIM27 to affect cisplatin resistance and cancer metastasis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma by regulating L1CAM expression.
PMID: 38924996
Drug Resist Updat · 2024
1.00
2
LncRNA-PACERR induces pro-tumour macrophages via interacting with miR-671-3p and m6A-reader IGF2BP2 in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
PMID: 35526050
J Hematol Oncol · 2022
0.90
3
KLF12 overcomes anti-PD-1 resistance by reducing galectin-1 in cancer cells.
PMID: 37586772
J Immunother Cancer · 2023
0.80
4
Genome-wide profiling of HPV integration in cervical cancer identifies clustered genomic hot spots and a potential microhomology-mediated integration mechanism.
PMID: 25581428
Nat Genet · 2015
0.70
5
KLF12 inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, pyroptosis, and endoplasmic reticulum stress in human airway epithelial cells through inhibition of the NF-κB pathway.
PMID: 39938687
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Res · 2025
0.60