Overexpression of FOXS1 in gastric cancer cell lines inhibits proliferation, metastasis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of tumor through downregulating wnt/β-catenin pathway

FOXS1 acts as an oncogene and induces EMT through FAK/PI3K/AKT pathway by upregulating HILPDA in prostate cancer

Prostate cancer (PCa) is a widespread global health concern characterized by elevated rates of occurrence, and there is a need for novel therapeutic targets to enhance patient outcomes. FOXS1 is closely linked to different cancers, but its function in PCa is still unknown. The expression of FOXS1, its prognostic role, clinical significance in PCa, and the potential mechanism by which FOXS1 affects PCa progression were investigated through bioinformatics analysis utilizing public data. The levels of FOXS1 and HILPDA were evaluated in clinical PCa samples using various methods, such as western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and qRT-PCR. To examine the function and molecular mechanisms of FOXS1 in PCa, a combination of experimental techniques including CCK-8 assay, flow cytometry, wound-healing assay, Transwell assay, and Co-IP assay were employed. The FOXS1 expression levels were significantly raised in PCa, correlating strongly with tumor aggressiveness and an unfavorable prognosis. Regulating FOXS1 expression, whether upregulating or downregulating it, correspondingly enhanced or inhibited the growth, migration, and invasion capabilities of PCa cells. Mechanistically, we detected a direct interaction between FOXS1 and HILPDA, resulting in the pathway activation of FAK/PI3K/AKT and facilitation EMT in PCa cells. FOXS1 collaborates with HILPDA to initiate EMT, thereby facilitating the PCa progression through the FAK/PI3K/AKT pathway activation.

FOXS1 promotes prostate cancer progression through the Hedgehog/Gli1 pathway

BACKGROUND

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains the most common malignant tumor in men, and the clinical treatment still faces many challenges. Several molecular biomarkers of PCa progression have been reported, however, whether FOXS1 can serve as a new biomarker in PCa remains unknown.

METHODS

FOXS1 and Gli1 expression was assessed by RT-qPCR and western blot. The binding and regulation roles between FOXS1 and Gli1 were confirmed by Co-IP and ubiquitination assays. Cell viability, proliferation, apoptosis, migration, invasion and EMT progress were assessed through CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, wound-healing, transwell and western blot assays, respectively. In vivo nude mice tumorigenesis model was also conducted to verify PCa growth.

RESULTS

FOXS1 was upregulated in the PCa TCGA dataset and cells. High FOXS1 level was correlated with PCa patients' worse tumor stage and shorter survival. FOXS1 knockdown inhibited PCa cell proliferation, invasion, migration, EMT and tumor growth while increased cell apoptosis. Furthermore, FOXS1 knockdown decreased the inactivation of Hedgehog (Hh) pathway. FOXS1 bind to Gli1 and decreased the ubiquitination of Gli1, which resulted in the upregulation of Gli1. Besides, both Gil1 overexpression and Hh signal activation reversed the suppression function of FOXS1 silencing on PCa growth and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

FOXS1 bind and stabilized Gli1 by blocking Gli1 ubiquitination, thereby activating Hh signaling to promote PCa cell growth and metastasis.

Alterations in ileal transcriptomics during an intestinal barrier challenge in lactating Holstein cows fed a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product identify potential regulatory processes

Stressors such as lack of access to feed, hot temperatures, transportation, and pen changes can cause impairment of ruminal and intestinal barrier function, also known as "leaky gut". Despite the known benefits of some nutritional approaches during periods of stress, little is understood regarding the underlying mechanisms, especially in dairy cows. We evaluated the effect of feeding a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (SCFP; NutriTek, Diamond V, Cedar Rapids, IA) on the ileal transcriptome in response to feed restriction (FR), an established model to induce intestinal barrier dysfunction. Multiparous cows [97.1 ± 7.6 days in milk (DIM); n = 5/group] fed a control diet or control plus 19 g/d SCFP for 9 wk were subjected to an FR challenge for 5 d during which they were fed 40% of their ad libitum intake from the 7 d before FR. All cows were slaughtered at the end of FR, and ileal scrapping RNA was used for RNAseq (NovaSeq 6000, 100 bp read length). Statistical analysis was performed in R and bioinformatics using the KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) and GO databases. One thousand six hundred and ninety-six differentially expressed genes (DEG; FDR-adjusted P ≤ 0.10) were detected in SCFP vs. control, with 451 upregulated and 1,245 downregulated. "Mucin type O-glycan biosynthesis" was the top downregulated KEGG pathway due to downregulation of genes catalyzing glycosylation of mucins (GCNT3, GALNT5, B3GNT3, GALNT18, and GALNT14). An overall downregulation of cell and tissue structure genes (e.g., extracellular matrix proteins) associated with collagen (COL6A1, COL1A1, COL4A1, COL1A2, and COL6A2), laminin (LAMB2), and integrins (ITGA8, ITGA2, and ITGA5) also were detected with SCFP. A subset of DEG enriched in the GO term "extracellular exosome" and "extracellular space". Chemokines within "Cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathways" such as CCL16, CCL21, CCL14, CXCL12, and CXCL14 were downregulated by SCFP. The "Glutathione metabolism" pathway was upregulated by SCFP, including GSTA1 and RRM2B among the top upregulated genes, and GSTM1 and GPX8 as top downregulated genes. There were 9 homeobox transcription factors among the top 50 predicted transcription factors using the RNAseq DEG dataset, underscoring the importance of cell differentiation as a potential target of dietary SCFP. Taken together, SCFP downregulated immune-, ECM-, and mucin synthesis-related genes during FR. Homeobox transcription factors appear important for the transcriptional response of SCFP.

FOXS1 Promotes Tumor Progression by Upregulating CXCL8 in Colorectal Cancer

Background

Forkhead box S1 (FOXS1) is a member of the forkhead box (FOX) transcriptional factor superfamily. The biological roles and underlying regulatory mechanism of FOXS1 in CRC remain unclear.

Methods

Bioinformatics analysis, Western blotting, real-time PCR, and immunohistochemistry (IHC) were used to detect the expression FOXS1 in CRC. MTT assay, transwell assay, human umbilical vein endothelial cell tube formation assay, and chicken chorioallantoic membrane assay were performed to investigate the effects of FOXS1 on proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. Additionally, tumor formation assay and orthotopic implantation assay were used to investigate the effects of FOXS1 on tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Furthermore, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was used to analyze the correlation between FOXS1 and EMT or angiogenesis. The correlation between FOXS1 and CXCL8 expression was analyzed in clinical CRC samples using IHC.

Results

The results showed that FOXS1 expression was upregulated in CRC tissues compared with adjacent normal intestine tissues. A high FOXS1 expression is positively correlated with poor survival. FOXS1 promoted the malignant behavior of CRC cancer cells in vitro, including proliferation, invasion, and angiogenesis. In addition, FOXS1 promoted tumor growth and metastasis in nude mice. Mechanistically, FOXS1 upregulated the expression of C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8) at the transcriptional level. Knockdown of CXCL8 blocked FOXS1 induced the enhancement of the EMT and angiogenesis. GSEAs in public CRC datasets revealed strong correlations between FOXS1 expression and EMT marker and angiogenesis markers. IHC showed that FOXS1 expression was positively correlated with CXCL8 expression and CD31 expression in clinical CRC samples.

Conclusion

The results suggest that FOXS1 promotes angiogenesis and metastasis by upregulating CXCL8 in CRC. Interference with the FOXS1/CXCL8 axis may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of metastatic CRC.

TGFβ-induced FOXS1 controls epithelial-mesenchymal transition and predicts a poor prognosis in liver cancer

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) plays a key role in tumor progression, notably as a potent inducer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). However, all of the molecular effectors driving TGFβ-induced EMT are not fully characterized. Here, we report that forkhead box S1 (FOXS1) is a SMAD (mothers against decapentaplegic)-dependent TGFβ-induced transcription factor, which regulates the expression of genes required for the initial steps of EMT (e.g., snail family transcription repressor 1) and to maintain a mesenchymal phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. In human HCC, we report that FOXS1 is a biomarker of poorly differentiated and aggressive tumor subtypes. Importantly, FOXS1 expression level and activity are associated with a poor prognosis (e.g., reduced patient survival), not only in HCC but also in colon, stomach, and kidney cancers. Conclusion: FOXS1 constitutes a clinically relevant biomarker for tumors in which the pro-metastatic arm of TGF-β is active (i.e., patients who may benefit from targeted therapies using inhibitors of the TGF-β pathway).

Pan-Cancer Analysis Predicts FOXS1 as a Key Target in Prognosis and Tumor Immunotherapy

Purpose

Only a few studies have reported the role of FOXS1, a transcriptional factor, in the tumor development process. In this article, we investigate the function of FOXS1 in distinct neoplastic development and the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME).

Patients and Methods

The latent roles of FOXS1 in various tumors were prospected based on TCGA, GTEx, CCLE, GEPIA2, cBioPortal, TIMER, ImmuCellAI databases, GSVA datasets, GSEA datasets, and R packages. The expression difference, gene alteration, clinical characteristics, prognostic values, biological mechanism, potential pathways, tumor microenvironment, and immune cell infiltration related to FOXS1 were appraised.

Results

FOXS1 was strongly expressed in pan-cancer, and this gene was associated with low survival rates. FOXS1 was linked to many pathways that are cancer-promoting and immune-related. The expression of this transcriptional factor in cancers was positively related to immune cell infiltration, especially M2-like macrophages and Treg cells. In addition to that, FOXS1 demonstrated a positive relationship with many immune-suppression genes, such as TGFB1 and ARORA2A.

Conclusion

Our study identified an oncogenic effect of FOXS1, which may play a vital role as a prognosticative biological marker in pan-cancer. Exorbitant expression of FOXS1 is associated with high TAMs and Treg cells infiltration. These cells have an immunosuppressive function and promote the development of the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. The research of FOXS1 provided a potential drug target for tumor immunotherapy.

Regulation of Wnt Signaling by FOX Transcription Factors in Cancer

Simple Summary

Cancer is caused by a breakdown of cell-to-cell communication, which results in the unrestricted expansion of cells within a tissue. In many cases, tumor growth is maintained by the continuous activation of cell signaling programs that normally drive embryonic development and wound repair. In this review article, I discuss how one of the largest human protein families, namely FOX proteins, controls the activity of the Wnt pathway, a major regulatory signaling cascade in developing organisms and adult stem cells. Evidence suggests that there is considerable crosstalk between FOX proteins and the Wnt pathway, which contributes to cancer initiation and progression. A better understanding of FOX biology may therefore lead to the development of new targeted treatments for many types of cancer.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of the oncogenic Wnt signaling pathway is a hallmark of numerous types of cancer. However, in many cases, it is unclear how a chronically high Wnt signaling tone is maintained in the absence of activating pathway mutations. Forkhead box (FOX) family transcription factors are key regulators of embryonic development and tissue homeostasis, and there is mounting evidence that they act in part by fine-tuning the Wnt signaling output in a tissue-specific and context-dependent manner. Here, I review the diverse ways in which FOX transcription factors interact with the Wnt pathway, and how the ectopic reactivation of FOX proteins may affect Wnt signaling activity in various types of cancer. Many FOX transcription factors are partially functionally redundant and exhibit a highly restricted expression pattern, especially in adults. Thus, precision targeting of individual FOX proteins may lead to safe treatment options for Wnt-dependent cancers.

Forkhead Box S1 Inhibits the Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Introduction

Forkhead box (FOX) superfamily members were recently shown to play important roles in tumor development and progression. Forkhead box S1 (FOXS1), a member of the FOX family, has been reported to be closely associated with malignant neoplasms. However, its expression and effect on hepatocellular carcinoma remain unclear. The aim of this study was to determine the expression and role of FOXS1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Methods

Real-time PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemistry assays were carried out to determine FOXS1 expression in HCC tissues and cells. The biological roles of FOXS1 in HCC were investigated using CCK-8, colony formation, transwell and wound healing. Additionally, the effect of FOXS1 on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was investigated by Western blotting. Xenograft model was carried out to evaluate the effect of FOXS1 in vivo.

Results

In our study, we confirmed lower FOXS1 expression in HCC samples than in normal liver tissues by performing Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR assays. In addition, FOXS1 expression is strongly associated with the prognosis of patients with HCC. Overexpression of FOXS1 suppressed cell proliferation, colony formation, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway in vitro and in vivo. SAG, an activator of Hh signaling, partially reversed the effect of FOXS1 overexpression on HCC cells.

Conclusion

FOXS1 might suppress HCC cell proliferation, colony formation, and EMT by inhibiting the Hh signaling pathway, indicating that FOXS1 may be a promising biological target in HCC.

FOXN3 suppresses the growth and invasion of papillary thyroid cancer through the inactivation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway

Forkhead box N3 (FOXN3) is a subtype of FOX family that has been demonstrated to be implicated in several cancers. However, the role of FOXN3 in papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and its mechanisms have not yet been investigated. Our results showed that FOXN3 was markedly down regulated in PTC tissues and cell lines. Overexpression of FOXN3 suppressed the proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion in PTC cells. Overexpression of FOXN3 also prevented EMT process in PTC cells, as shown by the increased E-cadherin expression level and decreased expression levels of N-cadherin and vimentin. In addition, overexpression of FOXN3 inhibited tumor growth of PTC in vivo. Furthermore, overexpression of FOXN3 caused significant decreases in expression levels of β-catenin, c-Myc, and cyclin D1. Additionally, activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway reversed the effects of FOXN3 on PTC cells. In conclusion, these findings indicated that FOXN3 exerted a tumor suppressive activity in PTC, which was mediated by Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

FOXO transcription factor family in cancer and metastasis

Forkhead box O (FOXO) transcription factors regulate diverse biological processes, affecting development, metabolism, stem cell maintenance and longevity. They have also been increasingly recognised as tumour suppressors through their ability to regulate genes essential for cell proliferation, cell death, senescence, angiogenesis, cell migration and metastasis. Mechanistically, FOXO proteins serve as key connection points to allow diverse proliferative, nutrient and stress signals to converge and integrate with distinct gene networks to control cell fate, metabolism and cancer development. In consequence, deregulation of FOXO expression and function can promote genetic disorders, metabolic diseases, deregulated ageing and cancer. Metastasis is the process by which cancer cells spread from the primary tumour often via the bloodstream or the lymphatic system and is the major cause of cancer death. The regulation and deregulation of FOXO transcription factors occur predominantly at the post-transcriptional and post-translational levels mediated by regulatory non-coding RNAs, their interactions with other protein partners and co-factors and a combination of post-translational modifications (PTMs), including phosphorylation, acetylation, methylation and ubiquitination. This review discusses the role and regulation of FOXO proteins in tumour initiation and progression, with a particular emphasis on cancer metastasis. An understanding of how signalling networks integrate with the FOXO transcription factors to modulate their developmental, metabolic and tumour-suppressive functions in normal tissues and in cancer will offer a new perspective on tumorigenesis and metastasis, and open up therapeutic opportunities for malignant diseases.

Identifying critical state of complex diseases by single-sample Kullback-Leibler divergence

Background

Developing effective strategies for signaling the pre-disease state of complex diseases, a state with high susceptibility before the disease onset or deterioration, is urgently needed because such state usually followed by a catastrophic transition into a worse stage of disease. However, it is a challenging task to identify such pre-disease state or tipping point in clinics, where only one single sample is available and thus results in the failure of most statistic approaches.

Methods

In this study, we presented a single-sample-based computational method to detect the early-warning signal of critical transition during the progression of complex diseases. Specifically, given a set of reference samples which were regarded as background, a novel index called single-sample Kullback–Leibler divergence (sKLD), was proposed to explore and quantify the disturbance on the background caused by a case sample. The pre-disease state is then signaled by the significant change of sKLD.

Results

The novel algorithm was developed and applied to both numerical simulation and real datasets, including lung squamous cell carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, stomach adenocarcinoma, thyroid carcinoma, colon adenocarcinoma, and acute lung injury. The successful identification of pre-disease states and the corresponding dynamical network biomarkers for all six datasets validated the effectiveness and accuracy of our method.

Conclusions

The proposed method effectively explores and quantifies the disturbance on the background caused by a case sample, and thus characterizes the criticality of a biological system. Our method not only identifies the critical state or tipping point at a single sample level, but also provides the sKLD-signaling markers for further practical application. It is therefore of great potential in personalized pre-disease diagnosis.