Klf15-flox Mouse

Klf15, also known as Krüppel-like factor 15, is a transcription factor with diverse biological functions. It is involved in multiple pathways, such as those related to metabolism, inflammation, and cell-phenotype regulation, playing an overall crucial role in maintaining normal physiological functions and in disease-related processes. Genetic models, like gene knockout (KO) and conditional knockout (CKO) mouse models, are valuable tools for studying Klf15's functions.

In immobility-induced muscle atrophy, mice with skeletal muscle KLF15 deficiency are protected from atrophy, suggesting Klf15 is part of the Piezo1/KLF15/IL-6 axis mediating this atrophy [1]. In cardiac ischemic injury, WWP1 targets KLF15 for polyubiquitination and degradation, exacerbating cardiomyocyte inflammation; inhibition of WWP1 mitigates this [2]. In pancreatic cancer, KLF15 suppresses cancer stem cell stemness by promoting Nanog degradation [3]. In hypertensive renal injury, SIRT7 mitigates renal ferroptosis, fibrosis, and injury by facilitating the KLF15/Nrf2 signaling [4]. In the heart, KLF15 is an inhibitor of pathological cardiac hypertrophy and fibrosis [5]. In liver, KLF15-Cyp3a11 axis regulates rifampicin-induced liver injury; KLF15 knockout attenuates hepatotoxicity of rifampicin [6]. In thoracic aortic dissection, Klf15KO mice are more susceptible to TAD, and KLF15 maintains VSMC contractile phenotype by interacting with MRTFB [7]. In cardiomyocytes, KLF15 deficiency leads to increased oxidative stress due to reduced NAMPT and NAD + levels [8]. In triple-negative breast cancer, exogenous KLF15 suppresses cell growth and metastasis by downregulating CCL2 and CCL7 [9].

In conclusion, Klf15 is involved in a wide range of biological processes including muscle atrophy, cardiac function, cancer stemness, renal injury, and more. The use of Klf15 KO/CKO mouse models has significantly contributed to understanding its role in diseases such as muscle atrophy, cardiac ischemic injury, pancreatic cancer, hypertensive renal injury, and others, providing potential therapeutic targets for these conditions.