# IKZF3 (Aiolos)

Source: https://onco.cc/targets/ikzf3/  
OnCo record `ikzf3` (Target). Data CC BY-NC 4.0, attribute "Data from OnCo (onco.cc)"; commercial use needs a licence.

## TL;DR

Aiolos is Ikaros' partner transcription factor in B cells and plasma cells. The myeloma drugs lenalidomide, pomalidomide and golcadomide destroy Aiolos and Ikaros together by rerouting them to the cell's protein-disposal system.

## Summary

IKZF3 (chromosome 17q12-q21.1) encodes Aiolos, a transcription factor that regulates lymphocyte differentiation and is essential for B-cell differentiation, proliferation and maturation to an effector state; it regulates BCL2 expression and controls IL-2-dependent apoptosis in T cells (UniProt Q9UKT9). In OnCo it is the second cereblon neosubstrate, alongside Ikaros, that lenalidomide and pomalidomide recruit for ubiquitination and proteasomal degradation and that golcadomide degrades; the loss lowers IRF4 and MYC in myeloma cells and stimulates T and NK cells.

## Fields

- Kind: Target
- Last checked: 2026-09-22
- Also known as: Aiolos; ZNFN1A3; IKAROS family zinc finger 3
- Tags: wave5-target
- Symbol: IKZF3
- Class: transcription
- Biology: Aiolos and Ikaros are destroyed by the same molecular-glue mechanism: the drug binds cereblon in the CRL4 ligase, the complex gains affinity for both transcription factors, and both are ubiquitinated (lenalidomide mechanism steps). Pomalidomide keeps this activity after lenalidomide failure.
- Where found: Multiple myeloma (degradation by immunomodulatory drugs and CELMoDs); Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (golcadomide trials)

## Notes

- Prevalence not recorded in this wave: HGNC and UniProt carry no positivity rates and no other source was consulted.

## Sources

- HGNC HGNC:13178: https://www.genenames.org/data/gene-symbol-report/#!/hgnc_id/HGNC:13178
- UniProt Q9UKT9: https://www.uniprot.org/uniprotkb/Q9UKT9/entry
- NCBI Gene 22806: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/gene/22806

## Connected records

- targets: [BCL-2](https://onco.cc/targets/bcl2/), [Cereblon (CRBN)](https://onco.cc/targets/cereblon/), [IKZF1 (Ikaros)](https://onco.cc/targets/ikzf1/), [IRF4](https://onco.cc/targets/irf4/)
- cancers: [Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma](https://onco.cc/cancers/dlbcl/), [Multiple myeloma](https://onco.cc/cancers/multiple-myeloma/), [Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma](https://onco.cc/cancers/myeloma-relapsed-refractory/)
- technologies: [Cereblon E3 ligase modulators (CELMoDs)](https://onco.cc/technologies/celmods/), [Molecular glue discovery platforms](https://onco.cc/technologies/molecular-glue-platforms/)
- drugs: [Golcadomide](https://onco.cc/drugs/golcadomide/), [Lenalidomide](https://onco.cc/drugs/lenalidomide/), [Pomalidomide](https://onco.cc/drugs/pomalidomide/)
- pathways: [Transcriptional machinery & addiction](https://onco.cc/pathways/transcription-addiction/), [Ubiquitin-proteasome system & protein homeostasis](https://onco.cc/pathways/ubiquitin-proteasome-system/)

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JSON: https://onco.cc/api/v1/entities/ikzf3.json