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Conditional deletion of the mouse Forkhead Box (Fox) m1b targeted allele in adult hepatocytes (Foxm1, previously called HFH-11B, Trident, Win, or MPP2) demonstrated that the Foxm1b transcription factor is essential for hepatocyte mitosis during liver regeneration. To determine the role of Foxm1b in liver development, we have generated Foxm1b -/- mice that deleted the Foxm1b exons encoding the winged helix DNA binding and transcriptional activation domains. Here. we show that all of the Foxm1b -/- embryos died in utero by 18.5 days postcoitum (dpc). Embryonic Foxm1b -/- livers displayed a 75% reduction in the number of hepatoblasts, resulting from diminished DNA replication and a failure to enter mitosis causing a polyploid phenotype. Reduced hepatoblast mitosis was associated with decreased protein levels of the Polo-like kinase 1 and Aurora B kinase, which phosphorylate regulatory proteins essential for orchestrating mitosis and cytokinesis. Diminished proliferation of Foxm1b -/- hepatoblasts contributed to abnormal liver development with significant reduction in the number of large hepatic veins compared to embryonic wild-type (WT) liver. Furthermore, embryonic Foxm1b -/- livers did not develop intrahepatic bile ducts, and these presumptive biliary hepatoblasts failed to express either biliary cytokeratins or nuclear levels of hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 [beta]. These results suggest that Foxmlb is critical for hepatoblast precursor cells to differentiate toward biliary epithelial cell lineage Finally, we used a hepatoblast-specific Cre recombinase transgene to mediate deletion of the Foxm1b fl/fl allele in the developing liver, and these embryos died in utero and exhibited diminished hepatoblast proliferation with similar abnormalities in liver morphogenesis, suggesting that the defect in liver development contributed to embryonic lethality. Keywords: Winged helix DNA binding domain; Mouse liver development; Intrahepatic bile ducts; Aurora B kinase; Polo-like kinase; Mitosis; Forkhead Box

HNF-3/forkhead homologue 4 (HFH-4), a transcription factor of the winged helix/forkhead family, is expressed in various tissues including lung, brain, oviduct, testis, and embryonic kidney. In order to test whether the temporospatial expression of HFH-4 influences lung morphogenesis, HFH-4 was expressed in lungs of transgenic mice under control of the surfactant protein C (SP-C) promoter. The morphology of the lungs from SP-C/HFH-4 embryos (day 18 postconception) was distinctly abnormal, and the severity of the alterations correlated with the level of transgene expression as detected by in situ hybridization. At high levels of expression, HFH-4 altered epithelial cell differentiation and inhibited branching morphogenesis. Atypical cuboidal or columnar cells lined the lung periphery of SP-C/HFH-4 transgenic mice. The atypical epithelial cells seen in the SP-C/HFH-4 mice expressed thyroid transcription factor-1 and hepatocyte nuclear factor 3(beta) (HNF-3(beta)). However, surfactant proteins SP-B, SP-C, and Clara cell secretory protein, normally produced by nonciliated epithelial cells in lung parenchyma were lacking. (beta)-Tubulin IV, a marker of ciliated cells, stained the atypical columnar cells produced by expression of high levels of the SP-C/HFH-4 transgene. Ectopic expression of HFH-4 in developing mouse lung altered epithelial cell differentiation and morphology, restricting the expression of markers typical of nonciliated cells of the distal lung parenchyma.

Murine hepatocyte nuclear factor-3[Beta] (HNF-3[Beta]) protein is a member of a large family of developmentally regulated transcription factors that share homology in the winged helix/fork head DNA binding domain and that participate in embryonic pattern formation. HNF-3[Beta] also mediates cell-specific transcription of genes important for the function of hepatocytes, intestinal and bronchiolar epithelial, and pancreatic acinar cells. We have previously identified a liver-enriched transcription factor, HNF-6, which is required for HNF-3[Beta] promoter activity and also recognizes the regulatory region of numerous hepatocyte-specific genes. In this study we used the yeast one-hybrid system to isolate the HNF-6 cDNA, which encodes a cut-homeodomain-containing transcription factor that binds with the same specificity as the liver HNF-6 protein. Cotransfection assays demonstrate that HNF-6 activates expression of a reporter gene driven by the HNF-6 binding site from either the HNF-3[Beta] or transthyretin (TTR) promoter regions. We used interspecific backcross analysis to determine that murine Hnf6 gene is located in the middle of mouse chromosome 9. In situ hybridization studies of staged specific embryos demonstrate that HNF-6 and its potential target gene, HNF-3[Beta], are coexpressed in the pancreatic and hepatic diverticulum. More detailed analysis of HNF-6 and HNF-3[Beta]'s developmental expression patterns provides evidence of colocalization in hepatocytes, intestinal epithelial, and in the pancreatic ductal epithelial and exocrine acinar cells. The expression patterns of these two transcription factors do not overlap in other endoderm-derived tissues or the neurotube. We also found that HNF-6 is also abundantly expressed in the dorsal root ganglia, the marginal layer, and the midbrain. At day 18 of gestation and in the adult pancreas, HNF-6 and HNF-3[Beta] transcripts colocalize in the exocrine acinar cells, but their expression patterns diverge in other pancreatic epithelium. HNF-6, but not HNF-3[Beta], expression continues in the pancreatic ductal epithelium, whereas only HNF-3[Beta] becomes restricted to the endocrine cells of the islets of Langerhans. We discuss these expression patterns with respect to specification of hepatocytes and differentiation of the endocrine and exocrine pancreas.

Molecular cloning of a new hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF-3) forkhead (fkh) homolog 8 (HFH-8) and amino acid sequence analysis of HFH-8, and previously defined HFH-1 and -4 proteins show that the expression of the proteins of HNF-3 /fkh family of transcription factors is seen in various cell types in the adult lung. The HFH-8 and HNF-3 proteins transactivate the DNA binding site in the surfactant protein B (SPB) promoter region and identify the SPB-f2 sequence in the binding site. HFH-8 and HNF-3 alpha proteins regulate SPB promoter functions in the different cell types.

Decreased pulmonary expression of Forkhead Box f1 (Foxf1) transcription factor was associated with lethal alveolar hemorrhage in 55% of the Foxf1 +/- newborn mice. The severity of the pulmonary abnormalities correlates with the levels of Foxf1 mRNA. Defects in alveolarization and vasculogenesis were observed in subsets of the Foxf1 +/- mice with relatively low levels of expression from the normal Foxf1 allele. Lung hemorrhage was coincident with disruption of the mesenchymal-epithelial cell interfaces in the alveolar and bronchiolar regions of the lung parenchyma and was associated with increased apoptosis and reduced surfactant protein B (SP-B) expression. Finally, the lung defect associated with the Foxf1 +/- mutation was accompanied by reduced expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), the VEGF receptor 2 (Flk-1), bone morphogenetic protein 4 (Bmp-4), and the transcription factors of the Brachyury T-Box family (Tbx2-Tbx5) and Lung Kruppel-like Factor. Reduction in the level of Foxf1 caused neonatal pulmonary hemorrhage and abnormalities in alveologenesis, implicating this transcription factor in the regulation of mesenchyme-epithelial interaction critical for lung morphogenesis. Key Words: winged-helix transcription factor; HFH-8; Freac-1; Foxf1; alveolar endothelial cell; Type I epithelial cell; bronchiolar smooth muscle cells; PECAM-1.

The Forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) transcription factor is essential for cell cycle progression and mitosis. FoxM1 regulates expression of Skp2 and Cks1, subunits of the SCF ubiquitin ligase complex, which ubiquitinates p27Kip1 and targets it for degradation. Kinase-interacting stathmin (KIS) is a growth factor-dependent nuclear kinase that regulates cell cycle progression by phosphorylating p27KiP1 to promote its nuclear export. Here we present an additional mechanism of FoxM1-mediated regulation of p27Kip1 and provide evidence that FoxM1 regulates growth factor-induced expression of KIS. In cells harboring FoxMl deletion or expressing FoxM1-short interfering RNA, the expression of KIS is impaired, leading to an accumulation of p27Kip1 in the nucleus. Furthermore, we show that KIS is a direct transcriptional target of FoxM1. Thus FoxM1 promotes cell cycle progression by down-regulating p27Kip1 through multiple mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & Aims: In this study, we used Forkhead Box m1b (Foxm1b) transgenic mice and conditional Foxm1 knock-out mice to examine the role of Foxm1 in colon cancer development and proliferation. Methods: To induce mouse colorectal cancer, we used a single intraperitoneal injection of azoxymethane (AOM) followed by three 1-week cycles of 2.5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) water, each cycle separated by 2 weeks. For these colon tumor studies, we used either Rosa26-Foxm1b transgenic mice that ubiquitously expressed the human Foxm1b complementary DNA or mice in which the Foxm1 fl/fl targeted allele was deleted in colonic epithelial cells using the gut-specific Villin-Cre recombinase transgene (Villin-Cre). Colorectal tumor number and bromodeoxyuridine labeling were determined in Rosa26-Foxm1b mice, Villin-Cre Foxm1-/-, mice and wild-type mice after 12 weeks of AOM/DDS exposure. We also used Foxm1 small interfering RNA–depleted human DLD1 and mouse CT26 colon cancer cell lines to examine DNA replication and anchorage-independent growth. Results: After 12 weeks of treatment with AOM/DSS, Rosa26 Foxm1b transgenic mice showed an increase in the number and size of colorectal tumors compared with wild-type mice. Likewise, a significant reduction in the development and growth of colorectal tumors was found in Villin-Cre Foxm1-/- mice compared with Foxm1 fl/fl mice after AOM/DSS treatment, which was associated with decreased expression of cyclin A2, cyclin B1, survivin, and T-cell factor 4 genes. Moreover, Foxm1-depleted colon cancer cell lines showed reduced DNA replication and anchorage-independent growth. Conclusions: These studies suggest that Foxm1 is critical for the proliferation and growth of colorectal cancer. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background & Aims: The hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 (HNF6 or ONECUT-1) protein is a cell-type specific transcription factor that regulates expression of hepatocyte-specific genes. Using hepatocytes for chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays, the HNF6 protein was shown to associate with cell cycle regulatory promoters. Here, we examined whether increased levels of HNF6 stimulate hepatocyte proliferation during mouse liver regeneration. Methods: Tail vein injection of adenovirus expressing the HNF6 complementary DNA was used to increase hepatic HNF6 levels during mouse liver regeneration induced by partial hepatectomy, and DNA replication was determined by bromodeoxyuridine incorporation. Cotransfection and ChIP assays were used to determine transcriptional target promoters. Results: Elevated expression of HNF6 during mouse liver regeneration causes a significant increase in the number of hepatocytes entering DNA replication (S phase), and mouse hepatoma Hepa1-6 cells diminished for HNF6 levels by small interfering RNA transfection exhibit a 50% reduction in S phase following serum stimulation. This stimulation in hepatocyte S-phase progression was associated with increased expression of the hepatocyte mitogen tumor growth factor α and the cell cycle regulators cyclin D1 and Forkhead box m1 (Foxm1) transcription factor. Cotransfection and ChIP assays show that tumor growth factor α, cyclin D1, and HNF6 promoter regions are direct transcriptional targets of the HNF6 protein. Coimmunoprecipitation assays with regenerating mouse liver extracts reveal an association between HNF6 and FoxM1 proteins, and cotransfection assays show that HNF6 stimulates Foxm1 transcriptional activity. Conclusions: These mouse liver regeneration studies show that increased HNF6 levels stimulate hepatocyte proliferation through transcriptional induction of cell cycle regulatory genes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Recent genetic studies demonstrate that mice deficient in the forkhead box m1b (Foxm1b) transcription factor are highly resistant to developing hepatocellular carcinoma, which is among the most lethal cancers worldwide. In addition, the Foxm1b transcription factor was identified as a novel inhibitory target of the p19ARF tumor suppressor during early stages of liver tumorigenesis, but p19ARF expression is extinguished in hepatic tumors that develop at later stages. Structure–function studies demonstrate that amino acids 26–46 of the p19ARF protein are sufficient to bind Foxm1b and reduce Foxm1b transcriptional activity by targeting it to the nucleolus. A peptide containing amino acids 24–46 of p19ARF, which was modified to enhance cellular uptake, is an effective inhibitor of Foxm1b transcriptional activity and prevents Foxm1b stimulation of anchorage-independent growth of cells on soft agar. Thus, the p19ARF peptide is an effective inhibitor of Foxm1b and represents a potential therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We previously demonstrated that the formation of complexes between the DNA binding domains of the hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 (HNF6) and Forkhead Box a2 (Foxa2) transcription factors resulted in synergistic transcriptional activation of a Foxa2 target promoter. This Foxa2·HNF6 transcriptional synergy was mediated by the recruitment of CREB-binding protein (CBP) coactivator through the HNF6 Cut-Homeodomain sequences. Although the HNF6 DNA binding domain sequences are sufficient to recruit CBP coactivator for HNF6·Foxa2 transcriptional synergy, paradoxically these HNF6 Cut-Homeodomain sequences were unable to stimulate the transcription of an HNF6-dependent reporter gene. Here, we investigated whether the CBP coactivator protein played a different role in regulating HNF6 transcriptional activity. We showed that acetylation of the HNF6 protein by CBP increased both HNF6 protein stability and its ability to stimulate transcription of the glucose transporter 2 promoter. Mutation of the HNF6 Cut domain lysine 339 residue to an arginine residue abrogated CBP acetylation, which is required for HNF6 protein stability. Furthermore, the HNF6 K339R mutant protein, which failed to accumulate detected protein levels, was transcriptionally inactive and could not be stabilized by inhibiting the ubiquitin proteasome pathway. Finally, increased HNF6 protein levels stabilized the Foxa2 protein, presumably through the formation of the Foxa2·HNF6 complex. These studies show for the first time that HNF6 protein stability is controlled by CBP acetylation and provides a novel mechanism by which the activity of the CBP coactivator may regulate steady levels of two distinct liver-enriched transcription factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Within the developing pancreas Hepatic Nuclear Factor 6 (HNF6) directly activates the pro-endocrine transcription factor, Ngn3. HNF6 and Ngn3 are each essential for endocrine differentiation and HNF6 is also required for embryonic duct development. Most HNF6 −/− animals die as neonates, making it difficult to study later aspects of HNF6 function. Here, we describe, using conditional gene inactivation, that HNF6 has specific functions at different developmental stages in different pancreatic lineages. Loss of HNF6 from Ngn3-expressing cells (HNF6Δendo) resulted in fewer multipotent progenitor cells entering the endocrine lineage, but had no effect on β cell terminal differentiation. Early, pancreas-wide HNF6 inactivation (HNF6Δpanc) resulted in endocrine and ductal defects similar to those described for HNF6 global inactivation. However, all HNF6Δpanc animals survived to adulthood. HNF6Δpanc pancreata displayed increased ductal cell proliferation and metaplasia, as well as characteristics of pancreatitis, including up-regulation of CTGF, MMP7, and p8/Nupr1. Pancreatitis was most likely caused by defects in ductal primary cilia. In addition, expression of Prox1, a known regulator of pancreas development, was decreased in HNF6Δpanc pancreata. These data confirm that HNF6 has both early and late functions in the developing pancreas and is essential for maintenance of Ngn3 expression and proper pancreatic duct morphology. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Forkhead box Ml (FoxM1) protein is a proliferation-specific transcription factor that plays a key role in controlling both the G1/S and G2/M transitions through the cell cycle and is essential for the development of various cancers. We show here that FoxM1 directly activates the transcription of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK1) gene in U2OS osteosarcoma cells. Expression of JNK1, which regulates the expression of genes important for the G1/S transition, rescues the G1/S but not the G2/M cell cycle block in FoxM1-deficient cells. Knockdown of either FoxM1 or JNK1 inhibits tumor cell migration, invasion, and anchorage-independent growth. However, expression of JNK1 in FoxM1-depleted cells does not rescue these defects, indicating that JNK1 is a necessary but insufficient downstream mediator of FoxM1 in these processes. Consistent with this interpretation, FoxM1 regulates the expression of the matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9, which play a role in tumor cell invasion, through JNK1-independent and -dependent mechanisms in U2OS cells, respectively. Taken together, these findings identify JNK1 as a critical transcriptional target of FoxM1 that contributes to FoxM1-regulated cell cycle progression, tumor cell migration, invasiveness, and anchorage-independent growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orthotopic liver transplantation is limited by the shortage of liver donors, leading to elderly patients being enrolled as donors with increasing frequency. Alternative strategies such as cell therapy are therefore needed. Because transplanted hepatocytes do not proliferate into a recipient liver, repopulation strategies have been developed. We have previously published a proof of concept that hepatocytes harboring a survival selective advantage can efficiently repopulate a mouse liver. We develop here an alternative approach by conferring a selective proliferative advantage on transplanted hepatocytes over resident ones. FoxM1B is a transcription factor that, when over-expressed into hepatocytes, accelerates the cell cycle and maintains the hepatocyte in vivo proliferative capacity of aged livers. We now demonstrate that transplanted hepatocytes over-expressing FoxM1B repopulate the liver of mice subjected to continuous injury far more efficiently than control hepatocytes. We show that old hepatocytes that over-express FoxM1B retain their cell division capacity and repopulate liver as well as young ones, in contrast with old non-modified hepatocytes, which lose their proliferative capacity. In conclusion, our results point to the potential use of FoxM1B expression in hepatocyte-based therapy protocols in diseases where host hepatocytes are chronically injured, especially if donor hepatocytes come from old livers.Molecular Therapy (2007) 15 9, 1710–1715. doi:10.1038/sj.mt.6300232 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Forkhead Box f1 (Foxf1) transcription factor (previously known as HFH-8 or Freac-1) is expressed in the septum transversum and splanchnic (visceral) mesoderm and is required for proper development of gut-derived organs. Sequence comparisons of mouse and human Fox f1 genes have revealed highly conserved DNA sequences located within the -5.3-kb Foxf1 promoter region and the 400-nucleotide regulatory element located 1 kb 3′ to the Foxf1 gene (3′RE). To examine their transcriptional activity during mouse embryonic development, we generated transgenic mice in which the expression of the β-galactosidase transgene was controlled by the -2.7-kb Foxf1 promoter region, the -5.3-kb Foxf1 promoter region, or the -5.3-kb Foxf1 promoter region fused to the 3′RE. The -5.3-kb Foxf1 promoter sequences induced appropriate transgene expression in the midgut and developing intestine, whereas the -2.7-kb Foxf1 promoter region was transcriptionally inactive. Addition of 3′RE to the -5.3-kb Foxf1 promoter restored proper transgene expression in the foregut, liver, and lung mesenchyme and prevented ectopic transgene expression in the developing nervous system. Cotransfection studies demonstrated that FoxA2 protein bound to the 3′RE region (+4506/+4529 bp) and was sufficient to inhibit expression of the -5.3-kb Foxf1 promoter. Furthermore, C/EBPβ and HNF-6 proteins bound to the 3′RE region (+4647/+4694 bp) and provided synergistic transcriptional activation of the -5.3-kb Foxf1 promoter in cotransfection assays. These studies demonstrated that the conserved Foxf1 3′RE region is essential for proper tissue-specific regulation of the Foxf1 promoter region during mouse embryogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transgenic and gene knock-out studies demonstrated that the mouse Forkhead Box ml (Foxm1 or Foxm1b) transcription factor (previously called HFH- 11B, Trident, Win, or MPP2) is essential for hepatocyte entry into mitosis during liver development, regeneration, and liver cancer. Targeted deletion of Foxm1 gene in mice produces an embryonic lethal phenotype due to severe abnormalities in the development of liver and heart. In this study, we show for the first time that Foxm1-/- lungs exhibit severe hypertrophy of arteriolar smooth muscle cells and defects in the formation of peripheral pulmonary capillaries as evidenced by significant reduction in platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 staining of the distal lung. Consistent with these findings, significant reduction in proliferation of the embryonic Foxm1-/- lung mesenchyme was found, yet proliferation levels were normal in the Foxm1-deficient epithelial cells. Severe abnormalities of the lung vasculature in Foxm1-/- embryos were associated with diminished expression of the transforming growth factor β receptor II, a disintegrin and metalloprotease domain 17 (ADAM-17), vascular endothelial growth factor receptors, Polo-like kinase 1, Aurora B kinase, laminin ɑ4 (Lama4), and the Forkhead Box f1 transcription factor. Cotransfection studies demonstrated that Foxm1 stimulates transcription of the Lama4 promoter, and this stimulation requires the Foxm1 binding sites located between -1174 and -1145 bp of the mouse Lama4 promoter. In summary, development of mouse lungs depends on the Foxm1 transcription factor, which regulates expression of genes essential for mesenchyme proliferation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and vasculogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 (HNF-6) belongs to the family of One Cut transcription factors (also known as OC-1) and is essential for the development of the mouse pancreas, gall bladder, and the interhepatic bile ducts. HNF-6 binds to DNA as a monomer utilizing a single cut domain and a divergent homeodomain motif located at its C terminus. Here, we have used NMR methods to determine the solution structures of the 162 amino acid residue DNA-binding domain of the HNF-6α protein. The resulting overall structure of HNF-6α has two different distinct domains: the Cut domain and the Homeodomain connected by a long flexible linker. Our NMR structure shows that the Cut domain folds into a topology homologous to the POU DNA-binding domain, even though the sequences of these two protein families do not show homology. The DNA contact sequence of the HNF-6α was mapped with chemical shift perturbation methods. Our data also show that a proposed CREB-binding protein histone acetyltransferase protein-recruiting sequence, LSDLL, forms a helix and is involved in the hydrophobic core of the Cut domain. The structure implies that this sequence has to undergo structural changes when it interacts with CREB-binding protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a correction to the article "Ubiquitous Expression of the Forkhead Box M1B Transgene Accelerates Proliferation of Distinct Pulmonary Cell Types Following Lung Injury" that was previously published in the "Journal of Biological Chemistry".