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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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KLF3
KLF transcription factor 3
Chromosome 4 · 4p14
NCBI Gene: 51274Ensembl: ENSG00000109787.14HGNC: HGNC:16516UniProt: P57682
54PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
0Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Transcription Factor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
sequence-specific double-stranded DNA bindingprotein bindingnucleoplasmDNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specifichypertensionessential hypertensionatrial fibrillationinflammatory bowel disease
✦AI Summary

KLF3 (Krüppel-like factor 3) is a zinc finger transcription factor that regulates gene expression across multiple biological processes through sequence-specific DNA binding. KLF3 functions as a transcriptional regulator in muscle gene expression, where it synergizes with serum response factor (SRF) to transactivate muscle-specific genes including muscle creatine kinase, myosin heavy chain, and skeletal alpha-actin 1. In hematopoiesis, KLF3 cooperates with other KLF family members to regulate inflammatory responses in macrophages and myeloid cell function 2. The protein exhibits context-dependent roles in disease pathogenesis. In cancer, KLF3 demonstrates oncogenic properties by promoting tumor growth and metastasis through activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling in gastric cancer 3 and colorectal cancer 4, while showing decreased expression in breast cancer 5. KLF3 also contributes to pathological fibrosis by transcriptionally activating DDAH2 in chr4 kidney disease 6. Additionally, KLF3 regulates CD8+ T cell metabolism in tumor microenvironments through modulation of glycolysis pathways 7. These findings establish KLF3 as a versatile transcription factor with significant roles in muscle development, immune regulation, and disease progression.

Sources cited
1
KLF3 regulates muscle-specific genes and synergizes with SRF
PMID: 20404088
2
KLF3 cooperates with other KLFs in regulating inflammatory responses in macrophages
PMID: 40534851
3
KLF3 promotes gastric cancer growth and metastasis via WNT/β-catenin signaling
PMID: 36827869
4
KLF3 identified as oncogenic transcription factor in colorectal cancer
PMID: 34737287
5
KLF3 expression decreased in breast cancer
PMID: 33490232
6
KLF3 aggravates renal fibrosis through transcriptional activation of DDAH2
PMID: 40480524
7
KLF3 regulates CD8+ T cell metabolism and glycolysis in tumor microenvironment
PMID: 38994031
Disease Associationsⓘ20
hypertensionOpen Targets
0.40Moderate
essential hypertensionOpen Targets
0.36Weak
atrial fibrillationOpen Targets
0.33Weak
inflammatory bowel diseaseOpen Targets
0.32Weak
Crohn's diseaseOpen Targets
0.32Weak
cardiovascular diseaseOpen Targets
0.31Weak
hypothyroidismOpen Targets
0.29Weak
atrial flutterOpen Targets
0.28Weak
obesityOpen Targets
0.27Weak
Hernia of the abdominal wallOpen Targets
0.26Weak
peripheral vascular diseaseOpen Targets
0.26Weak
Umbilical herniaOpen Targets
0.26Weak
preeclampsiaOpen Targets
0.26Weak
Increased blood pressureOpen Targets
0.26Weak
Abruptio PlacentaeOpen Targets
0.26Weak
T2-high asthmaOpen Targets
0.25Weak
Breast hypertrophyOpen Targets
0.25Weak
Genu varumOpen Targets
0.24Weak
Dupuytren ContractureOpen Targets
0.24Weak
bone remodeling diseaseOpen Targets
0.23Weak
Pathogenic Variants
No pathogenic variants reported on ClinVar for this gene.
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
CTBP1Protein interaction99%CTBP2Protein interaction99%FHL3Protein interaction82%ZNF160Shared pathway50%PBXIP1Shared pathway50%KLF5Shared pathway33%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Ovary
53%
Lung
39%
Liver
39%
Brain
34%
Heart
31%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
KLF3CTBP1CTBP2FHL3ZNF160PBXIP1KLF5
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt P57682
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.47Moderately Constrained
pLIⓘ
0.99Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.24 [0.13–0.47]
RankingsWhere KLF3 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #8,327of 20,598
    Most Researched54
  • #2,691of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.47 · top quartile
Genes detectedKLF3
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
Genome-wide profiling in colorectal cancer identifies PHF19 and TBC1D16 as oncogenic super enhancers.
PMID: 34737287
Nat Commun · 2021
1.00
2
CBX4 suppresses CD8
PMID: 38994031
Theranostics · 2024
0.90
3
Unravelling Structure, Localization, and Genetic Crosstalk of KLF3 in Human Breast Cancer.
PMID: 33490232
Biomed Res Int · 2020
0.80
4
KLF3 regulates muscle-specific gene expression and synergizes with serum response factor on KLF binding sites.
PMID: 20404088
Mol Cell Biol · 2010
0.70
5
LncRNA KLF3-AS1 in human mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes ameliorates pyroptosis of cardiomyocytes and myocardial infarction through miR-138-5p/Sirt1 axis.
PMID: 31847890
Stem Cell Res Ther · 2019
0.60