Zfp35, a Kruppel-type zinc finger protein-encoding gene, contains 18 zinc finger motifs. Zinc finger proteins are regulatory transcription factors crucial for cellular development and function [1,2,3].

In Zfp35-deficient (Zfp35(-/-)) mice, Th2 cell differentiation, Th2 cytokine production, eosinophilic inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness were enhanced. Adoptive transfer of Ag-sensitized Zfp35(-/-) CD4 T cells into asthmatic mice also led to increased airway inflammation and hyperresponsiveness. These results suggest Zfp35 negatively controls Th2 cell differentiation, allergic airway inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness [1]. Additionally, Zfp35 is transiently expressed during spermatogenesis, specifically up-regulated at the pachytene stage of meiotic prophase in spermatocytes [2,3].

In conclusion, Zfp35 plays important roles in controlling Th2-dependent allergic inflammation, such as in allergic asthma, and in regulating gene activity during spermatogenesis. The gene knockout mouse models have been instrumental in revealing these functions, providing insights into the mechanisms underlying allergic diseases and spermatogenesis [1,2,3].