Transcriptional regulation of a brown adipocyte-specific gene, UCP1, by KLF11 and KLF15

Several growth factors and transcription factors have been reported to play important roles in brown adipocyte differentiation and modulation of thermogenic gene expression, especially the expression of UCP1. In this study, we focused on KLF11 and KLF15, which were expressed highly in brown adipose tissue. Our data demonstrated that KLF11 and KLF15 interacted directly with the UCP1 promoter using GC-box and GT-boxes, respectively. Co-transfection of KLF11 and KLF15 in the mesenchymal stem cell line muBM3.1 during brown adipocyte differentiation enhanced the expression level of UCP1. KLF11, but not KLF15, was essential for UCP1 expression during brown adipocyte differentiation of muBM3.1.

Research highlights
► KLF11 and KLF15 interacted directly with the UCP1 promoter using GC-box and GT-boxes, respectively.
► Co-transfection of KLF11 and KLF15 in the mesenchymal stem cell line muBM3.1 during brown adipocyte differentiation enhanced the expression level of UCP1.
► KLF11, but not KLF15, was essential for UCP1 expression during brown adipocyte differentiation of muBM3.1.