GATA binding protein 4: Emerging role in liver development and diseases.

GATA binding protein 4 (GATA4) is a zinc finger DNA binding protein first identified in 1993. As a pioneer transcription factor, GATA4 is indispensable for embryonic development, particularly liver development, and its abnormal expression has been associated with various diseases. In this review, we systematically summarize the current understanding of the embryological and physiological roles of GATA4 in the liver. Furthermore, we specifically focus on its regulatory functions in a broad spectrum of liver diseases, including metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma and other conditions such as viral hepatitis, hepatic encephalopathy and iron metabolism disorder. Ultimately, the potential and obstacle of GATA4 as a therapeutic target for liver diseases has been discussed. Although further investigation is warranted, GATA4 holds potential as a future therapeutic target for liver diseases in the context of precision medicine.