Regulatory roles for SOX11 in development, stem cells and cancer

The transcription factor SOX11 (SRY-related high-mobility-group (HMG) box 11), a member of the SOXC group, is expressed during embryogenesis but largely absent in most adult differentiated tissues. SOX11 regulates progenitor and stem cell behavior, and often acts together with the other two SOXC group members, SOX4 and SOX12, in regulating developmental processes, including neurogenesis and skeletogenesis. Dysregulation of SOX11 has been implicated in a number of diseases including, neurodevelopmental disorders and osteoarthritis, and a wide variety of cancers. Functions of SOX11 during both development and disease could be attributed to its context-dependent post-transcriptional modifications or interaction with other co-factors. We review the molecular and functional roles of SOX11 during development where similar processes appear to be deregulated in cancers.