Increased expression of FoxM1 transcription factor in respiratory epithelium inhibits lung sacculation and causes Clara cell hyperplasia

FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) in tumorigenesis: overexpression in human cancer, implication in tumorigenesis, oncogenic functions, tumor-suppressive properties, and target of anticancer therapy

FOXM1 (Forkhead box M1) is a typical proliferation-associated transcription factor and is also intimately involved in tumorigenesis. FOXM1 stimulates cell proliferation and cell cycle progression by promoting the entry into S-phase and M-phase. Additionally, FOXM1 is required for proper execution of mitosis. In accordance with its role in stimulation of cell proliferation, FOXM1 exhibits a proliferation-specific expression pattern and its expression is regulated by proliferation and anti-proliferation signals as well as by proto-oncoproteins and tumor suppressors. Since these factors are often mutated, overexpressed, or lost in human cancer, the normal control of the foxm1 expression by them provides the basis for deregulated FOXM1 expression in tumors. Accordingly, FOXM1 is overexpressed in many types of human cancer. FOXM1 is intimately involved in tumorigenesis, because it contributes to oncogenic transformation and participates in tumor initiation, growth, and progression, including positive effects on angiogenesis, migration, invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis, recruitment of tumor-associated macrophages, tumor-associated lung inflammation, self-renewal capacity of cancer cells, prevention of premature cellular senescence, and chemotherapeutic drug resistance. However, in the context of urethane-induced lung tumorigenesis, FOXM1 has an unexpected tumor suppressor role in endothelial cells because it limits pulmonary inflammation and canonical Wnt signaling in epithelial lung cells, thereby restricting carcinogenesis. Accordingly, FOXM1 plays a role in homologous recombination repair of DNA double-strand breaks and maintenance of genomic stability, that is, prevention of polyploidy and aneuploidy. The implication of FOXM1 in tumorigenesis makes it an attractive target for anticancer therapy, and several antitumor drugs have been reported to decrease FOXM1 expression.

FOXM1 promotes allergen-induced goblet cell metaplasia and pulmonary inflammation

Chronic airway disorders, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, and asthma, are associated with persistent pulmonary inflammation and goblet cell metaplasia and contribute to significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. While the molecular pathogenesis of these disorders is actively studied, little is known regarding the transcriptional control of goblet cell differentiation and mucus hyperproduction. Herein, we demonstrated that pulmonary allergen sensitization induces expression of FOXM1 transcription factor in airway epithelial and inflammatory cells. Conditional deletion of the Foxm1 gene from either airway epithelium or myeloid inflammatory cells decreased goblet cell metaplasia, reduced lung inflammation, and decreased airway resistance in response to house dust mite allergen (HDM). FOXM1 induced goblet cell metaplasia and Muc5AC expression through the transcriptional activation of Spdef. FOXM1 deletion reduced expression of CCL11, CCL24, and the chemokine receptors CCR2 and CX3CR1, resulting in decreased recruitment of eosinophils and macrophages to the lung. Deletion of FOXM1 from dendritic cells impaired the uptake of HDM antigens and decreased cell surface expression of major histocompatibility complex II (MHC II) and costimulatory molecule CD86, decreasing production of Th2 cytokines by activated T cells. Finally, pharmacological inhibition of FOXM1 by ARF peptide prevented HDM-mediated pulmonary responses. FOXM1 regulates genes critical for allergen-induced lung inflammation and goblet cell metaplasia.

Genome-scale study of transcription factor expression in the branching mouse lung

BACKGROUND

Mammalian lung development consists of a series of precisely choreographed events that drive the progression from simple lung buds to the elaborately branched organ that fulfills the vital function of gas exchange. Strict transcriptional control is essential for lung development. Among the large number of transcription factors encoded in the mouse genome, only a small portion of them are known to be expressed and function in the developing lung. Thus a systematic investigation of transcription factors expressed in the lung is warranted.

RESULTS

To enrich for genes that may be responsible for regional growth and patterning, we performed a screen using RNA in situ hybridization to identify genes that show restricted expression patterns in the embryonic lung. We focused on the pseudoglandular stage during which the lung undergoes branching morphogenesis, a cardinal event of lung development. Using a genome-scale probe set that represents over 90% of the transcription factors encoded in the mouse genome, we identified 62 transcription factor genes with localized expression in the epithelium, mesenchyme, or both. Many of these genes have not been previously implicated in lung development.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide new starting points for the elucidation of the transcriptional circuitry that controls lung development.

Foxm1 transcription factor is critical for proliferation and differentiation of Clara cells during development of conducting airways

Respiratory epithelial cells are derived from cell progenitors in the foregut endoderm that subsequently differentiate into the distinct cell types lining the conducting and alveolar regions of the lung. To identify transcriptional mechanisms regulating differentiation and maintenance of respiratory epithelial cells, we conditionally deleted Foxm1 transcription factor from the conducting airways of the developing mouse lung. Conditional deletion of Foxm1 from Clara cells, controlled by the Scgb1a1 promoter, dramatically altered airway structure and caused peribronchial fibrosis, resulting in airway hyperreactivity in adult mice. Deletion of Foxm1 inhibited proliferation of Clara cells and disrupted the normal patterning of epithelial cell differentiation in the bronchioles, causing squamous and goblet cell metaplasia, and the loss of Clara and ciliated cells. Surprisingly, conducting airways of Foxm1-deficient mice contained highly differentiated cuboidal type II epithelial cells that are normally restricted to the alveoli. Lineage tracing studies showed that the ectopic alveolar type II cells in Foxm1-deficient airways were derived from Clara cells. Deletion of Foxm1 inhibited Sox2 and Scgb1a1, both of which are critical for differentiation and function of Clara cells. In co-transfection experiments, Foxm1 directly bound to and induced transcriptional activity of Scgb1a1 and Sox2 promoters. Foxm1 is required for differentiation and maintenance of epithelial cells lining conducting airways.

Foxm1 mediates cross talk between Kras/mitogen-activated protein kinase and canonical Wnt pathways during development of respiratory epithelium

While Kras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and canonical Wnt/β-catenin are critical for lung morphogenesis, mechanisms integrating these important signaling pathways during lung development are unknown. Herein, we demonstrate that the Foxm1 transcription factor is a key downstream target of activated Kras(G12D). Deletion of Foxm1 from respiratory epithelial cells during lung formation prevented structural abnormalities caused by activated Kras(G12D). Kras/Foxm1 signaling inhibited the activity of canonical Wnt signaling in the developing lung in vivo. Foxm1 decreased T-cell factor (TCF) transcriptional activity induced by activated β-catenin in vitro. Depletion of Foxm1 by short interfering RNA (siRNA) increased nuclear localization of β-catenin, increased expression of β-catenin target genes, and decreased mRNA and protein levels of the β-catenin inhibitor Axin2. Axin2 mRNA was reduced in distal lung epithelium of Foxm1-deficient mice. Foxm1 directly bound to and increased transcriptional activity of the Axin2 promoter region. Foxm1 is required for Kras signaling in distal lung epithelium and provides a mechanism integrating Kras and canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling during lung development.

Airway epithelial cell differentiation during lung organogenesis requires C/EBPα and C/EBPβ

BACKGROUND

CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP)α is crucial for lung development and differentiation of the pulmonary epithelium. Conversely, no lung defects have been observed in C/EBPβ-deficient mice, although C/EBPβ trans-activate pulmonary genes by binding to virtually identical DNA-sequences as C/EBPα. Thus, the pulmonary phenotype of mice lacking C/EBPβ could be explained by functional replacement with C/EBPα. We investigated whether C/EBPα and C/EBPβ have overlapping functions in regulating lung epithelial differentiation during organogenesis. Epithelial differentiation was assessed in mice with a lung epithelial-specific (SFTPC-Cre-mediated) deletion of C/EBPα (Cebpa(ΔLE) ), C/EBPβ (Cebpb(ΔLE) ), or both genes (Cebpa(ΔLE) ; Cebpb(ΔLE) ).

RESULTS

Both Cebpa(ΔLE) mice and Cebpa(ΔLE) ; Cebpb(ΔLE) mice demonstrated severe pulmonary immaturity compared to wild-type littermates, while no differences in lung histology or epithelial differentiation were observed in Cebpb(ΔLE) mice. In contrast to Cebpa(ΔLE) mice, Cebpa(ΔLE) ; Cebpb(ΔLE) mice also displayed undifferentiated Clara cells with markedly impaired protein and mRNA expression of Clara cell secretory protein (SCGB1A1), compared to wild-type littermates. In addition, ectopic mucus-producing cells were observed in the conducting airways of Cebpa(ΔLE) ; Cebpb(ΔLE) mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings demonstrate that C/EBPα and C/EBPβ play pivotal, and partly overlapping roles in determining airway epithelial differentiation, with possible implications for tissue regeneration in lung homeostasis and disease.

FOXM1: From cancer initiation to progression and treatment

The Forkhead box protein M1 (FOXM1) transcription factor is a regulator of myriad biological processes, including cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, cell differentiation, DNA damage repair, tissue homeostasis, angiogenesis and apoptosis. Elevated FOXM1 expression is found in cancers of the liver, prostate, brain, breast, lung, colon, pancreas, skin, cervix, ovary, mouth, blood and nervous system, suggesting it has an integral role in tumorigenesis. Recent research findings also place FOXM1 at the centre of cancer progression and drug sensitivity. In this review the involvement of FOXM1 in various aspects of cancer, in particular its role and regulation within the context of cancer initiation, progression, and cancer drug response, will be summarised and discussed.

Multiple faces of FoxM1 transcription factor: lessons from transgenic mouse models

FoxM1 transcription factor (previously called HFH-11B, Trident, FoxM1b, Win, and MPP2) is expressed in actively dividing cells and critical for cell cycle progression. FoxM1 expression is induced in a variety of tissues during embryogenesis, and Foxm1 (-/-) mice exhibit embryonic lethal phenotype due to multiple abnormalities in the liver, heart, lung and blood vessels. FoxM1 levels are dramatically decreased in adult tissues, but FoxM1 expression is re-activated during organ injury and numerous cancers. In this review, we discussed the role of FoxM1 in different cell lineages using recent data from transgenic mouse models with conditional "gain-of-function" and "loss-of-function" of FoxM1, as well as tissue samples from human patients. In addition, we provided experimental data showing additional sites of FoxM1 expression in the mouse embryo. Novel cell-autonomous roles of FoxM1 in embryonic development, organ injury and cancer formation in vivo were analyzed. Potential application of these findings for the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases were discussed.