Repression of vascular endothelial growth factor expression by the zinc finger transcription factor ZNF24

Cancer Res. 2007 Sep 15;67(18):8736-41. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-07-1617.

Abstract

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent stimulator of angiogenesis. Although many positive regulators of VEGF have been identified, relatively little is known regarding the negative regulation of VEGF expression. We identified a zinc finger transcription factor, ZNF24, that may repress VEGF transcription. An inverse correlation between expression of VEGF and ZNF24 was observed in a series of independent studies. ZNF24 was up-regulated in angiogenic tumor nodules where VEGF expression is significantly decreased compared with preangiogenic nodules. In human breast carcinoma cells cultured under normoxic conditions, ZNF24 levels were significantly up-regulated whereas VEGF levels were low. In contrast, VEGF was significantly increased in hypoxic cells whereas ZNF24 was down-regulated. The same inverse correlation between ZNF24 and VEGF was also observed in 70% of matched cDNA pairs of normal and malignant tissues from human colon and breast biopsies. Overexpression of ZNF24 resulted in a significant down-regulation of VEGF, whereas silencing of ZNF24 with small interfering RNA led to increased VEGF expression. Cotransfection of ZNF24 and a VEGF promoter luciferase reporter construct in MDA-MB-231 cells resulted in a significant decrease in VEGF promoter activity. Taken together, these data suggest that ZNF24 is involved in negative regulation of VEGF and may represent a novel repressor of VEGF transcription.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Breast Neoplasms / blood supply
  • Breast Neoplasms / genetics
  • Breast Neoplasms / metabolism*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • DNA, Complementary / genetics
  • Down-Regulation
  • Glioblastoma / blood supply
  • Glioblastoma / genetics
  • Glioblastoma / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / biosynthesis*
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / genetics
  • Neovascularization, Pathologic / metabolism
  • Promoter Regions, Genetic
  • RNA, Messenger / biosynthesis
  • RNA, Messenger / genetics
  • RNA, Small Interfering / genetics
  • Up-Regulation
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / biosynthesis*
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / genetics

Substances

  • DNA, Complementary
  • Kruppel-Like Transcription Factors
  • RNA, Messenger
  • RNA, Small Interfering
  • Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
  • ZNF24 protein, human