Up-regulation of gut-enriched krüppel-like factor by interferon-γ in human colon carcinoma cells

Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) induces growth arrest and apoptosis of tumor cells but the mechanisms for these functions are unknown. Recently, gut-enriched krüppel-like factor (GKLF) was found to possess similar biological properties. Treatment of HT-29 cells with IFN-γ inhibited cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, the effect was found to associate with GKLF expression. IFN-γ stimulates GKLF mRNA and protein levels in a dose- and time-dependent manner and this process is independent of p53, occurs rapidly and does not require de novo protein synthesis indicating that GKLF is an immediate-early IFN-γ-responsive gene. Moreover, overexpression of GKLF results in similar effect as IFN-γ suggesting that GKLF may function as a downstream target of IFN-γ.