Transcription factor landscape - Brain region - Glial cells

Transcriptome analysis shows that 67% (n=13603) of all human proteins (n=20162) are detected in glial cells and 2712 of these genes show an elevated expression in any glial cells compared to other brain cell types. Learn more about genes with elevated expression in glial cells here. In-depth analysis of transcription factor genes expressed in glial cells highlights 195 transcription factors with elevated expression in glial cells compared to other cell types. In total, 21 transcription factors are classified as enriched in glial cells.

Here we provide the expression overview of all transcription factors that show enriched expression levels in glial clusters compared to other brain cluster types.

Enriched transcription factors
Gene Expression
CTCFL
Cell type enriched (Bergmann glia)
CEBPE
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)
KLF17
Cell type enriched (Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
NKX6-2
Cell type enriched (Oligodendrocyte)
SOX1
Cell type enriched (Bergmann glia)
DMRT2
Cell type enriched (Oligodendrocyte)
CEBPA
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)
MYT1
Cell type enriched (Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
ASCL4
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)
BHLHE41
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)
GLI1
Cell type enriched (Bergmann glia)
HOXD1
Cell type enriched (Oligodendrocyte)
IRF5
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)
IRF8
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)
MSX2
Cell type enriched (Bergmann glia)
PAX3
Cell type enriched (Bergmann glia)
SOX3
Cell type enriched (Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
TAL1
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)
TFEC
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)
VENTX
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)
ZNF710
Cell type enriched (Central nervous system macrophage)

Enriched transcription factors
Gene Expression
NR2E1
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Cge interneuron, Choroid plexus epithelial cell)
OLIG1
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
HMX1
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
IKZF1
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
NR0B1
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
PAX6
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell, Upper rhombic lip)
VAX2
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Hippocampal dentate gyrus, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell, Upper rhombic lip)
VSX1
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell, Upper rhombic lip)
SOX8
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
DBX2
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
FOXB1
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Ependymal cell, Mammillary body)
LHX2
Group enriched (Amygdala excitatory, Astrocyte, Deep-layer intratelencephalic, Hippocampal ca1-3, Hippocampal ca4, Hippocampal dentate gyrus, Lamp5-lhx6 and chandelier, Miscellaneous, Thalamic excitatory, Upper-layer intratelencephalic)
NKX2-2
Group enriched (Bergmann glia, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
SOX21
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Ependymal cell, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
ST18
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte)
ZFP57
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Leukocyte, Oligodendrocyte, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell, Pericyte)
RFX4
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell)
RORB
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Deep-layer intratelencephalic, Midbrain-derived inhibitory, Thalamic excitatory, Upper-layer intratelencephalic)
SOX10
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
SP140
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
ESRRB
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Choroid plexus epithelial cell)
NKX2-8
Group enriched (Lamp5-lhx6 and chandelier, Lower rhombic lip, Mammillary body, Oligodendrocyte)
ARID5A
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell, Leukocyte, Pericyte, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
ASCL2
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
ATOH8
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Endothelial cell, Fibroblast, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
BNC2
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell, Fibroblast)
ELF4
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
ELK3
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell, Leukocyte, Upper rhombic lip)
FLI1
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell, Leukocyte)
FOS
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell, Ependymal cell, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
FOSL1
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell)
GLI2
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell, Fibroblast)
GLIS3
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Choroid plexus epithelial cell, Ependymal cell)
GRHL3
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Central nervous system macrophage)
HES1
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Endothelial cell, Ependymal cell, Fibroblast, Pericyte, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
HES5
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
HHEX
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell)
HIF3A
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Endothelial cell, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
ID4
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell)
IRX1
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell, Lower rhombic lip, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
MAFB
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Cge interneuron, Lamp5-lhx6 and chandelier, Leukocyte, Mge interneuron)
MEF2A
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell)
MEOX2
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Fibroblast, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
MYCL
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor)
MYRF
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte)
NFATC4
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Fibroblast, Pericyte, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
POU4F1
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Splatter)
PRRX1
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Fibroblast, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell, Pericyte)
PRRX2
Group enriched (Fibroblast, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
RFX2
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Choroid plexus epithelial cell, Ependymal cell)
RUNX1
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
SIX5
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Choroid plexus epithelial cell, Endothelial cell, Ependymal cell, Fibroblast, Pericyte, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
SMAD9
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Endothelial cell, Hippocampal dentate gyrus, Midbrain-derived inhibitory)
SOX4
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Midbrain-derived inhibitory, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
TCF7L1
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Choroid plexus epithelial cell, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Endothelial cell, Ependymal cell, Fibroblast, Pericyte, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
TFAP2C
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Endothelial cell, Fibroblast)
ZNF331
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
ZNF469
Group enriched (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
ZNF556
Group enriched (Central nervous system macrophage, Cerebellar inhibitory, Hippocampal ca4, Upper rhombic lip)
ZNF98
Group enriched (Astrocyte, Ependymal cell)

Enriched transcription factors
Gene Expression
GATA1
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Ependymal cell, Oligodendrocyte)
ZIC1
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Fibroblast, Pericyte)
OLIG2
Cell type enhanced (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
POU3F2
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell)
ZIC4
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Fibroblast, Pericyte, Upper rhombic lip)
POU3F3
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Oligodendrocyte, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
GBX2
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell, Thalamic excitatory)
TBX19
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
TSC22D4
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte)
ONECUT1
Cell type enhanced (Cerebellar inhibitory, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
HNF4G
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
MLXIPL
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
ZIC3
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Endothelial cell, Fibroblast)
ETV2
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia)
SPI1
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
EN1
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
OTX1
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Choroid plexus epithelial cell, Ependymal cell)
POU2F2
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
POU3F1
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Hippocampal ca1-3, Miscellaneous)
ZIC5
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Choroid plexus epithelial cell, Endothelial cell, Upper rhombic lip)
OVOL3
Cell type enhanced (Oligodendrocyte)
PROX1
Cell type enhanced (Cge interneuron, Hippocampal dentate gyrus, Oligodendrocyte)
SALL3
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Ependymal cell, Mammillary body, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
TAL2
Cell type enhanced (Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
ARID3A
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
ASCL1
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
BATF3
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Choroid plexus epithelial cell)
BCL6
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte)
BHLHE40
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Endothelial cell, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
CEBPB
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
CREB3L1
Cell type enhanced (Deep-layer corticothalamic and 6b, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
CREB5
Cell type enhanced (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte)
CREBL2
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
DMRTA1
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Choroid plexus epithelial cell)
DMRTA2
Cell type enhanced (Oligodendrocyte)
EBF4
Cell type enhanced (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
EGR2
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
ELF1
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell, Leukocyte)
EMX2
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Pericyte, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
ESRRG
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia)
ETV5
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
ETV6
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
FEZF1
Cell type enhanced (Amygdala excitatory, Astrocyte, Ependymal cell, Splatter)
FOXN2
Cell type enhanced (Oligodendrocyte)
FOXN3
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
GLI3
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Ependymal cell, Fibroblast)
HES6
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia)
HEY2
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Pericyte, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
HMGA2
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Deep-layer near-projecting, Ependymal cell)
HOXA7
Cell type enhanced (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Ependymal cell, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
ID2
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte)
ID3
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Endothelial cell, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
IRF7
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell, Leukocyte)
IRX2
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Lower rhombic lip)
IRX3
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell)
IRX5
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell)
JUN
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Endothelial cell, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
KLF15
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia)
LYL1
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell)
MAF
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
MEF2C
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
MEIS1
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Oligodendrocyte, Upper rhombic lip)
MITF
Cell type enhanced (Choroid plexus epithelial cell, Oligodendrocyte)
MYCN
Cell type enhanced (Midbrain-derived inhibitory, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
NFATC1
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia, Central nervous system macrophage, Ependymal cell, Leukocyte)
NFATC2
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Choroid plexus epithelial cell, Leukocyte)
NFKBID
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
NFKBIE
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
NPAS3
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia)
PLAG1
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
POU6F2
Cell type enhanced (Deep-layer corticothalamic and 6b, Deep-layer intratelencephalic, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
PPARD
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell)
PRDM1
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte, Mge interneuron)
PRDM16
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Choroid plexus epithelial cell)
PROX2
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
REL
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
RREB1
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
RUNX2
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage)
SALL1
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Oligodendrocyte)
SOX13
Cell type enhanced (Endothelial cell, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
SOX2
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia)
SOX6
Cell type enhanced (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte precursor cell)
SOX9
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Ependymal cell)
SP100
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell, Leukocyte)
SP110
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
SP140L
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Endothelial cell, Leukocyte)
SREBF1
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte)
STAT5A
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
STAT6
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
TBX5
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Lower rhombic lip)
TBX6
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell)
TCF12
Cell type enhanced (Oligodendrocyte)
TCF7L2
Cell type enhanced (Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Thalamic excitatory)
TFEB
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Committed oligodendrocyte precursor, Oligodendrocyte)
TGIF2
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Leukocyte)
TP53
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte)
TWIST2
Cell type enhanced (Central nervous system macrophage, Fibroblast, Vascular associated smooth muscle cell)
WT1
Cell type enhanced (Astrocyte, Bergmann glia, Ependymal cell)
ZEB2
Cell type enhanced (Oligodendrocyte)
ZHX3
Cell type enhanced (Bergmann glia)