ELF1, also known as E74-like factor 1, is a transcription factor specific to T cells and belonging to the Ets family. It plays crucial roles in various biological processes. ELF1 has been implicated in pathways related to cell proliferation, migration, and DNA repair. In different organisms, it impacts processes like hematopoiesis, myeloid differentiation, and macrophage development [5].

In early pregnancy, ELF1 along with PRR11 and ARP2/3 is involved in trophoblast cells' proliferation and motility. Low expression of ELF1 and PRR11 in placental villous tissues from early pregnancy loss (EPL) patients was observed, and overexpression of ELF1 promoted trophoblast cell proliferation and migration [1]. In systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), ELF1 gene expression was significantly downregulated in CD4+ T cells of SLE patients compared to healthy controls, and it shows potential as a biomarker for diagnosis, disease activity, and renal involvement [2]. In glioma, high expression of ELF1 may be related to the malignant behavior of the tumor as it promotes glioma development by transactivating the ATF5 gene [3]. In lung cancer cells, ELF1 suppresses autophagy to reduce cisplatin resistance via the miR-152-3p/NCAM1/ERK axis [4]. In zebrafish, Elf1 deficiency impairs macrophage development [5]. In gastric cancer, ELF1 is overexpressed, and its combination with MMP9 can serve as a predictor of malignant biological behavior and a prognostic indicator due to its association with the tumor microenvironment [6].

In conclusion, ELF1 is a transcription factor with diverse functions in multiple biological processes and diseases. Studies using various models, such as the zebrafish model for macrophage development and in vitro cell-based models for cancer and pregnancy-related research, have provided insights into its role. These findings highlight its significance in understanding disease mechanisms and potentially developing new therapeutic strategies for conditions like EPL, SLE, glioma, lung cancer, and gastric cancer.

References:

1. Zhu, Pengfei, Dou, Chengli, Song, Zhijiao, Wu, Xueqing, Miao, Yiliang. . ELF1/PRR11/ARP2/3 promoted trophoblast cells proliferation and motility in early pregnancy. In American journal of reproductive immunology (New York, N.Y. : 1989), 90, e13758. doi:10.1111/aji.13758. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37641376/

2. Zhang, Yukun, Cai, Minglong, Huang, Xiaoyi, Gao, Jinping, Sheng, Yujun. 2024. ELF1 serves as a potential biomarker for the disease activity and renal involvement in systemic lupus erythematosus. In Scientific reports, 14, 26590. doi:10.1038/s41598-024-78593-y. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39496744/

3. Hu, Ming, Li, Huanting, Xie, Hongwei, Ma, Junwei, Che, Shusheng. 2021. ELF1 Transcription Factor Enhances the Progression of Glioma via ATF5 promoter. In ACS chemical neuroscience, 12, 1252-1261. doi:10.1021/acschemneuro.1c00070. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33720698/

4. Zhao, Lifeng, Wu, Xiangsheng, Zhang, Zhiwen, Yang, Bo, Li, Yepeng. 2023. ELF1 suppresses autophagy to reduce cisplatin resistance via the miR-152-3p/NCAM1/ERK axis in lung cancer cells. In Cancer science, 114, 2650-2663. doi:10.1111/cas.15770. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36846943/

5. Tan, Qianli, Wang, Jing, Hao, Yimei, Pan, Weijun, Cao, Mengye. 2025. Elf1 Deficiency Impairs Macrophage Development in Zebrafish Model Organism. In International journal of molecular sciences, 26, . doi:10.3390/ijms26062537. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40141178/

6. Zhang, Xiaoxia, Ren, Xiaoyan, Zhang, Shu, Wang, Yan. 2024. Overexpression of ELF1 combined with MMP9 is associated with prognosis and tumor microenvironment in gastric cancer. In Experimental and therapeutic medicine, 28, 441. doi:10.3892/etm.2024.12730. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39583246/