The transcriptional repression of platelet-derived growth factor receptor-β by the zinc finger transcription factor ZNF24

The zinc finger transcription factor ZNF24 is a relatively uncharacterized Krüppel-like transcription factor, displaying a suppressive effect on the transcription. ZNF24 is involved in negative regulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and may represent a novel repressor of VEGF transcription. In a previous study, our analysis reveals that ZNF24 is a pleiotropic factor that has a role in hematopoiesis, brain development and cancers. Activation of PDGFR-β is critically involved into various cell functions including recruitment of stromal cells and VEGF induction in tumor and perivascular cells. Here, overexpression of ZNF24 resulted in a significant down-regulation of PDGFR-β, whereas silencing of ZNF24 with small interfering RNA led to increased PDGFR-β expression. Overexpression of ZNF24 resulted in a significant decrease in PDGFR-β promoter activity. These data suggest that ZNF24 is involved in negative regulation of PDGFR-β and may represent a novel repressor of PDGFR-β transcription.