Krüppel-like Factor 6 Expression increases throughout trophoblast syncytialization and transactivates hcg and PSG placental genes

RACCA A.; CAMOLOTTO S.; RIDANO M.; BOCCO J.L.; GENTI-RAIMONDI S.; PANZETTA-DUTARI G.

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE

Lugar: San Francisco; Año: 2011 vol. 6 p. 1 - 1

ackground: Kruppel-like factor-6 (KLF6) is a widely expressed member of the Sp1/KLF family of transcriptional regulators involved in differentiation, cell cycle control and proliferation in several cell systems. Even though the highest expression level of KLF6 has been detected in human and mice placenta, its function in trophoblast physiology is still unknown.Methodology/Principal Findings: Herein, we explored KLF6 expression and sub-cellular distribution in human trophoblast cells differentiating into the syncytial pathway, and its role in the regulation of genes associated with placental development and pregnancy maintenance. Confocal immunofluorescence microscopy demonstrated that KLF6 is expressed throughout human cytotrophoblast differentiation showing no evident modifications in its nuclear and cytoplasmic localization pattern. KLF6 transcript and protein peaked early during the syncytialization process as determined by qRT-PCRand western blot assays. Overexpression