Hepatocyte nuclear factor 1α (HNF1α, also known as TCF1 or MODY3) is a transcription factor that plays a role in the tissue-specific regulation of liver gene expression. HNF-1, HNF-3, HNF-4, and HNF-6 compose, in part, a homoeprotein family designated the Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor family.Research has shown that heterogeneous mutations of HNF1α are linked to maturity onset diabetes of the young. Recent studies indicate that increased concentrations of free fatty acids can reduce the expression of FoxA2/HNF3β and HNF1α in pancreatic β-cells and lead to their nuclear exclusion, resulting in symptoms of several metabolic syndromes.
