Expression of Kruppel-Like Factor KLF4 in Mouse Hair Follicle Stem Cells Contributes to Cutaneous Wound Healing

The study from 11 years ago focused on the role of Kruppel-Like Factor 4 (KLF4) in the maintenance and function of mouse hair follicle stem cells and its impact on cutaneous wound healing. The researchers found that KLF4 was highly expressed in CD34+/CD49f+ bulge stem cell-enriched populations in mouse skin and that KLF4 expression was approximately 2.2 times higher in these cells compared to other cell types. Using KLF4/EGFP transgenic mice and KLF4 knockout models, they demonstrated that KLF4 is crucial for maintaining the stem cell population and their self-renewal capacity. KLF4-expressing cells were shown to be multipotent and contributed to skin repair by migrating to wound sites and participating in re-epithelialization. Knockout of KLF4 led to a reduced stem cell population, impaired cell migration, and delayed wound healing. The study also extended to human A431 epidermoid carcinoma cells, where KLF4 knockdown resulted in a decreased cancer stem cell population and reduced cell migration, while KLF4 overexpression had the opposite effect. These findings suggest that KLF4 is essential for the homeostasis of skin bulge stem cells and plays a critical role in wound healing, indicating potential therapeutic applications for KLF4 in enhancing wound repair. The specific number of mice or cells used in the study was not provided in the summary.