The Roles of Transcription Factor Ets-1 in Neurological Disorders

Ets-1 is a member of the Ets family of transcription factors that regulates diverse biological processes including cellular proliferation, development, and immune response. At present, few studies have examined the actions of Ets-1 in brain neurological disorders. One exception is brain tumors where evidence suggests that elevated levels of Ets-1 could induce abnormalities in angiogenic activity in promoting tumor growth. In this review we summarize evidence for the involvement of Ets-1 in brain neurological disorders including brain tumors, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and depression. Overall findings suggest that Ets-1 is a critical switch in balancing vascular remodeling and neuroinflammation across various neuropathologies; however, whether Ets-1 exerts detrimental or beneficial effects is context- and time-dependent. At present, published work has largely concerned ancillary, rather than primary, roles of Ets-1 in brain with little focus on disorders other than brain tumors. Resolving these divergent and time-dependent roles of Ets-1 will advance its utility as both a diagnostic biomarker and a viable therapeutic target in neurological diseases.