KLF4 is a member of the erythroid Kruppel-like factor (EKLF) multigene family that is highly expressed in the differentiating layers of the epidermis. The protein is thought to control the G1-to-S transition of the cell cycle following DNA damage by mediating the tumor suppressor gene p53. The in vitro reprogramming of somatic cells to an embryonic-like state has been achieved by retroviral transduction of four factors: Oct-3/4, Sox2, c-Myc, and KLF4. These induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS) are of great therapeutic interest as they exhibit the key characteristics and growth properties of pluripotent stem cells.
