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10 sources retrieved · Most recent: April 2026 · Index updated 14 days ago
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KLF7
KLF transcription factor 7
Chromosome 2 · 2q33.3
NCBI Gene: 8609Ensembl: ENSG00000118263.17HGNC: HGNC:6350UniProt: O75840
53PubMed Papers
20Diseases
0Drugs
1Pathogenic Variants
FUNCTIONAL ROLE
Highly ConstrainedTranscription Factor
DATA QUALITY
✓ Experimental GO Evidence✓ Swiss-Prot Reviewed
RNA polymerase II cis-regulatory region sequence-specific DNA bindingglucose homeostasisregulation of epidermal cell differentiationpositive regulation of transcription by RNA polymerase IIneurodegenerative diseaseprostate carcinomagenetic disorderhearing loss
✦AI Summary

KLF7 is a zinc finger transcription factor that functions as a pleiotropic regulator in both normal physiology and disease. Mechanistically, KLF7 acts as a transcriptional activator that binds to promoter and super-enhancer regions of target genes 123. In normal tissues, KLF7 plays critical roles in neuronal morphogenesis and metabolic regulation, including modulation of insulin sensitivity and repression of adipogenesis [UniProt annotation]. However, KLF7 has emerged as a significant oncogenic driver across multiple cancer types. In hepatocellular carcinoma, HMGB1-mediated KLF7 elevation promotes metastasis through transactivation of TLR4 and PTK2, forming a positive feedback loop 4. KLF7 also drives HCC progression via the KLF7/SLC1A5 axis by regulating tryptophan metabolism and serotonin production 2. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, KLF7 regulates super-enhancer-driven IGF2BP2 overexpression to promote tumorigenicity and metastasis 1. In oral cancer, KLF7 maintains cancer stem cell stemness through ITGA2 regulation and promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition via snail induction 56. In colon adenocarcinoma, KLF7 activates PDGFB signaling to promote progression 3. A KLF7 SNP (rs2302870) associates with reduced coronary artery disease risk 7, suggesting protective effects in cardiovascular disease. These findings identify KLF7 as a therapeutic target across multiple malignancies.

Sources cited
1
HMGB1-KLF7-TLR4/PTK2 axis promotes HCC progression, metastasis, and forms positive feedback loop
PMID: 37554278
2
KLF7 regulates super-enhancer-driven IGF2BP2 to promote HNSCC progression and metastasis
PMID: 38443991
3
KLF7 rs2302870 SNP associated with reduced coronary artery disease risk
PMID: 37268267
4
KLF7 regulates ITGA2 to maintain oral cancer stem cell stemness and collagen-mediated signaling
PMID: 40316546
5
KLF7 overexpression promotes OSCC migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via snail
PMID: 28454392
6
KLF7 promotes HCC progression through KLF7/SLC1A5 axis regulating tryptophan and serotonin metabolism
PMID: 39648156
7
KLF7 promotes colon adenocarcinoma progression by transactivating PDGFB and activating MAPK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, and JAK/STAT3 pathways
PMID: 38164176
8
KLF7 overexpression in tongue cancer associates with poor prognosis and enhances migration and adhesion
PMID: 33393169
Disease Associationsⓘ20
neurodegenerative diseaseOpen Targets
0.53Moderate
prostate carcinomaOpen Targets
0.48Moderate
genetic disorderOpen Targets
0.47Moderate
hearing lossOpen Targets
0.46Moderate
major depressive disorderOpen Targets
0.46Moderate
Neurodevelopmental disorderOpen Targets
0.45Moderate
Intellectual disabilityOpen Targets
0.44Moderate
age-related hearing impairmentOpen Targets
0.41Moderate
insomniaOpen Targets
0.39Weak
PainOpen Targets
0.38Weak
lysosomal storage diseaseOpen Targets
0.37Weak
obesityOpen Targets
0.33Weak
Back painOpen Targets
0.33Weak
Sensorineural hearing impairmentOpen Targets
0.32Weak
schizophreniaOpen Targets
0.31Weak
placenta praeviaOpen Targets
0.31Weak
major depressive episodeOpen Targets
0.31Weak
obsessive-compulsive disorderOpen Targets
0.31Weak
amyotrophic lateral sclerosisOpen Targets
0.30Weak
Abnormality of the skeletal systemOpen Targets
0.28Weak
Pathogenic Variants1
NM_003709.4(KLF7):c.790G>A (p.Asp264Asn)Pathogenic
intellectual deficiency|not provided|KLF7-related disorder|Neurodevelopmental disorder|Inborn genetic diseases
★★☆☆2024→ Residue 264
View on ClinVar ↗
Related Genes
FBXO38Protein interaction93%NTN3Shared pathway33%EPHA5Shared pathway18%KIAA1755Shared pathway17%MLXIPShared pathway17%MLXShared pathway17%
Tissue Expression6 tissues
Bone Marrow
100%
Lung
74%
Heart
48%
Brain
47%
Ovary
43%
Liver
22%
Gene Interaction Network
Click a node to explore
KLF7FBXO38NTN3EPHA5KIAA1755MLXIPMLX
PROTEIN STRUCTURE
Preparing viewer…
AlphaFoldAI-predicted · UniProt O75840
View on AlphaFold ↗
Constraintⓘ
LOEUFⓘ
0.22Highly Constrained
pLIⓘ
1.00Intolerant
Observed/Expected LoF0.07 [0.03–0.22]
RankingsWhere KLF7 stands among ~20K protein-coding genes
  • #8,447of 20,598
    Most Researched53
  • #5,082of 5,498
    Most Pathogenic Variants1
  • #558of 17,882
    Most Constrained (LOEUF)0.22 · top 5%
Genes detectedKLF7
Sources retrieved10 papers
Response time—
📄 Sources
10▼
1
HMGB1-mediated elevation of KLF7 facilitates hepatocellular carcinoma progression and metastasis through upregulating TLR4 and PTK2.
PMID: 37554278
Theranostics · 2023
1.00
2
KLF7 regulates super-enhancer-driven IGF2BP2 overexpression to promote the progression of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
PMID: 38443991
J Exp Clin Cancer Res · 2024
0.90
3
Analysis of KLF7 and KLF5 transcription factors gene variants in coronary artery disease.
PMID: 37268267
Rev Port Cardiol · 2023
0.80
4
KLF7-regulated ITGA2 as a therapeutic target for inhibiting oral cancer stem cells.
PMID: 40316546
Cell Death Dis · 2025
0.70
5
KLF7 overexpression in human oral squamous cell carcinoma promotes migration and epithelial-mesenchymal transition.
PMID: 28454392
Oncol Lett · 2017
0.60