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Supplementary Figure S1 from Identification of a Chemical Inhibitor of the Oncogenic Transcription Factor Forkhead Box M1

Supplementary Figure Legends 1-4 from FoxM1 in Tumorigenicity of the Neuroblastoma Cells and Renewal of the Neural Progenitors

Supplementary Table S2 from Identification of a Chemical Inhibitor of the Oncogenic Transcription Factor Forkhead Box M1

Supplementary Figure 1 from Increased Levels of the FoxM1 Transcription Factor Accelerate Development and Progression of Prostate Carcinomas in both TRAMP and LADY Transgenic Mice

Supplementary Figure 1 from FoxM1 in Tumorigenicity of the Neuroblastoma Cells and Renewal of the Neural Progenitors

Supplementary Figure 2 from FoxM1 in Tumorigenicity of the Neuroblastoma Cells and Renewal of the Neural Progenitors

The proliferation-specific Forkhead Box M1 (FoxM1 or FoxM1b) transcription factor is overexpressed in a number of aggressive human carcinomas. Mouse hepatocytes deficient in FoxM1 fail to proliferate and are highly resistant to developing carcinogen-induced liver tumors. We previously developed a transgenic (TG) mouse line in which the ubiquitous Rosa26 promoter was used to drive expression of the human FoxM1b cDNA transgene in all mouse cell types. To investigate the role of FoxM1b in prostate cancer progression, we bred Rosa26-FoxM1b mice with both TRAMP and LADY TG mouse models of prostate cancer. We show that increased expression of FoxM1b accelerated development, proliferation, and growth of prostatic tumors in both TRAMP and LADY double TG mice. Furthermore, development of prostate carcinomas in TRAMP/Rosa26-FoxM1b double TG mice required high levels of FoxM1 protein to overcome sustained expression of the alternative reading frame tumor suppressor, a potent inhibitor of FoxM1 transcriptional activity. Depletion of FoxM1 levels in prostate cancer cell lines PC-3, LNCaP, or DU-145 by small interfering RNA transfection caused significant reduction in proliferation and anchorage-independent growth on soft agar. This phenotype was associated with increased nuclear levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor protein p27Kip1 and diminished expression of S-phase promoting cyclin A2 and M-phase promoting cyclin B1 proteins. Finally, we show that elevated levels of FoxM1 protein correlate with high proliferation rates in human prostate adenocarcinomas. Our results suggest that the FoxM1 transcription factor regulates development and proliferation of prostate tumors, and that FoxM1 is a novel target for prostate cancer treatment. Cancer Res 2006; 66(3): 1712-20

Supplementary Figure 4 from FoxM1 in Tumorigenicity of the Neuroblastoma Cells and Renewal of the Neural Progenitors

The oncogenic transcription factor forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) is overexpressed in a number of different carcinomas, whereas its expression is turned off in terminally differentiated cells. For this reason, FoxM1 is an attractive target for therapeutic intervention in cancer treatment. As a first step toward realizing this goal, in this study, using a high-throughput, cell-based assay system, we screened for and isolated the antibiotic thiazole compound Siomycin A as an inhibitor of FoxM1. Interestingly, we observed that Siomycin A was able to down-regulate the transcriptional activity as well as the protein and mRNA abundance of FoxM1. Consequently, we found that the downstream target genes of FoxM1, such as Cdc25B, Survivin, and CENPB, were repressed. Also, we observed that consistent with earlier reports of FoxM1 inhibition, Siomycin A was able to reduce anchorage-independent growth of cells in soft agar. Furthermore, we found that Siomycin A was able to induce apoptosis selectively in transformed but not normal cells of the same origin. Taken together, our data suggest that FoxM1 inhibitor Siomycin A could represent a useful starting point for the development of anticancer therapeutics. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(19): 9731-5)

Supplementary Figure 3 from FoxM1 in Tumorigenicity of the Neuroblastoma Cells and Renewal of the Neural Progenitors

The Forkhead Box (Fox) proteins are an extensive family of transcription factors that shares homology in the winged helix DNA binding domain. Liver regeneration studies with the –3 kb transthyretin (TTR) promoter-driven FoxM1B transgenic (TG) mice demonstrated that premature hepatocyte nuclear localization of the FoxM1B transgene protein at 16 h following partial hepatectomy (PHx) caused an 8-h acceleration in the onset of hepatocyte DNA replication (S-phase) and mitosis by stimulating earlier expression of cell cycle genes. Whether the FoxM1B transgene protein participates in immediate early events during liver regeneration remains to be determined. Here, we found that the FoxM1B transgene protein translocated to hepatocyte nuclei immediately following PHx, that its nuclear staining persisted for the first 6 h after surgery, and that this translocation was associated with an increase in size of regenerating TG hepatocytes. However, regenerating TTR-FoxM1B liver did not exhibit altered expression of proteins that have been implicated in mediating increased cell size, including serum-and-gucocorticoid-inducible protein kinase (SGK), protein kinase-B/Akt, the tumor suppresser gene PTEN (negative regulator of the PI3K/Akt pathway), c-Myc, or peroxisome proliferation. Moreover, we demonstrated that hepatocyte nuclear translocation of the FoxM1B transgene protein was rapidly induced during the hepatic acute phase response, which occurs during the immediate early stages of liver regeneration. Analysis of cDNA expression arrays identified a number of genes such as immediate early transcription factors (ID-3, Stat3, Nur77), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and several glutathione S-transferase (GST) isoforms and stress response genes, whose expression is elevated in regenerating TTR-FoxM1B TG livers compared with regenerating wild-type (WT) liver. These liver regeneration studies demonstrate that hepatocyte nuclear translo-cation of the FoxM1B transgene protein was sustained for the first 6 h after PHx, and was associated with transient hypertrophy of regenerating TG hepatocytes and increased expression of genes that may enhance hepa-tocyte proliferation.

Malignant neuroblastomas contain stem-like cells. These tumors also overexpress the Forkhead box transcription factor FoxM1. In this study, we investigated the roles of FoxM1 in the tumorigenicity of neuroblastoma. We showed that depletion of FoxM1 inhibits anchorage-independent growth and tumorigenicity in mouse xenografts. Moreover, knockdown of FoxM1 induces differentiation in neuroblastoma cells, suggesting that FoxM1 plays a role in the maintenance of the undifferentiated progenitor population. We showed that inhibition of FoxM1 in malignant neuroblastoma cells leads to the downregulation of the pluripotency genes sex determining region Y box 2 (Sox2) and Bmi1. We provided evidence that FoxM1 directly activates expression of Sox2 in neuroblastoma cells. By using a conditional deletion system and neurosphere cultures, we showed that FoxM1 is important for expression of Sox2 and Bmi1 in the mouse neural stem/progenitor cells and is critical for its self-renewal. Together, our observations suggested that FoxM1 plays an important role in the tumorigenicity of the aggressive neuroblastoma cells through maintenance of the undifferentiated state. Cancer Res; 71(12); 4292–302. ©2011 AACR.

The forkhead box M1b (FoxM1b) transcription factor is over-expressed in human cancers, and its expression often correlates with poor prognosis. Previously, using conditional knockout strains, we showed that FoxM1b is essential for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) development. However, over-expression of FoxM1b had only marginal effects on HCC progression. Here we investigated the effect of FoxM1b expression in the absence of its inhibitor Arf. We show that transgenic expression of FoxM1b in an Arf-null background drives hepatic fibrosis and metastasis of HCC. We identify novel mechanisms of FoxM1b that are involved in epithelial–mesenchymal transition, cell motility, invasion and a pre-metastatic niche formation. FoxM1b activates the Akt-Snail1 pathway and stimulates expression of Stathmin, lysyl oxidase, lysyl oxidase like-2 and several other genes involved in metastasis. Furthermore, we show that an Arf-derived peptide, which inhibits FoxM1b, impedes metastasis of the FoxM1b-expressing HCC cells. The observations indicate that FoxM1b is a potent activator of tumour metastasis and that the Arf-mediated inhibition of FoxM1b is a critical mechanism for suppression of tumour metastasis.

The transcription factor FoxM1 is over-expressed in most human malignancies. Although it is evident that FoxM1 has critical functions in tumour development and progression, the mechanisms by which FoxM1 participates in those processes are not understood. Here, we describe an essential role of FoxM1 in the regulation of oxidative stress that contributes to malignant transformation and tumour cell survival. We identify a negative feedback loop involving FoxM1 that regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) in proliferating cells. We show that induction of FoxM1 by oncogenic Ras requires ROS. Elevated FoxM1, in turn, downregulates ROS levels by stimulating expression of ROS scavenger genes, such as MnSOD, catalase and PRDX3. FoxM1 depletion sensitizes cells to oxidative stress and increases oncogene-induced premature senescence. Moreover, tumour cells expressing activated AKT1 are 'addicted' to FoxM1, as they require continuous presence of FoxM1 for survival. Together, our results identify FoxM1 as a key regulator of ROS in dividing cells, and provide insights into the mechanism how tumour cells use FoxM1 to control oxidative stress to escape premature senescence and apoptosis.

The Forkhead box M1 (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.

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 p27(Kip1) and targets it for degradation. Kinase-interacting stathmin (KIS) is a growth factor-dependent nuclear kinase that regulates cell cycle progression by phosphorylating p27(Kip1) to promote its nuclear export. Here we present an additional mechanism of FoxM1-mediated regulation of p27(Kip1) and provide evidence that FoxM1 regulates growth factor-induced expression of KIS. In cells harboring FoxM1 deletion or expressing FoxM1-short interfering RNA, the expression of KIS is impaired, leading to an accumulation of p27(Kip1) in the nucleus. Furthermore, we show that KIS is a direct transcriptional target of FoxM1. Thus FoxM1 promotes cell cycle progression by down-regulating p27(Kip1) through multiple mechanisms.

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.

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.

Recovery of endothelial integrity after vascular injury is vital for endothelial barrier function and vascular homeostasis. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of endothelial barrier repair following injury. To investigate the functional role of forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) in the mechanism of endothelial repair, we generated endothelial cell-restricted FoxM1-deficient mice (FoxM1 CKO mice). These mutant mice were viable and exhibited no overt phenotype. However, in response to the inflammatory mediator LPS, FoxM1 CKO mice displayed significantly protracted increase in lung vascular permeability and markedly increased mortality. Following LPS-induced vascular injury, FoxM1 CKO lungs demonstrated impaired cell proliferation in association with sustained expression of p27(Kip1) and decreased expression of cyclin B1 and Cdc25C. Endothelial cells isolated from FoxM1 CKO lungs failed to proliferate, and siRNA-mediated suppression of FoxM1 expression in human endothelial cells resulted in defective cell cycle progression. Deletion of FoxM1 in endothelial cells induced decreased expression of cyclins, Cdc2, and Cdc25C, increased p27(Kip1) expression, and decreased Cdk activities. Thus, FoxM1 plays a critical role in the mechanism of the restoration of endothelial barrier function following vascular injury. These data suggest that impairment in FoxM1 activation may be an important determinant of the persistent vascular barrier leakiness and edema formation associated with inflammatory diseases.

The FoxM1 transcription factor is highly expressed in proliferating cells and activates several cell cycle genes, although its requirement appears to be limited to certain tissue types. Embryonic hepatoblast-specific inactivation of Foxm1 results in a dramatic reduction in liver outgrowth and subsequent late gestation lethality, whereas inactivation of Foxm1 in adult liver impairs regeneration after partial hepatectomy. These results prompted us to examine whether FoxM1 functions similarly in embryonic outgrowth of the pancreas and beta-cell proliferation in the adult. We found that FoxM1 is highly expressed in embryonic and neonatal endocrine cells, when many of these cells are proliferating. Using a Cre-lox strategy, we generated mice in which Foxm1 was inactivated throughout the developing pancreatic endoderm by embryonic d 15.5 (Foxm1(Deltapanc)). Mice lacking Foxm1 in their entire pancreas were born with normal pancreatic and beta-cell mass; however, they displayed a gradual decline in beta-cell mass with age. Failure of postnatal beta-cell mass expansion resulted in impaired islet function by 6 wk of age and overt diabetes by 9 wk. The decline in beta-cell mass in Foxm1(Deltapanc) animals is due to a dramatic decrease in postnatal beta-cell replication and a corresponding increase in nuclear localization of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, p27(Kip1), a known target of FoxM1 inhibition. We conclude that Foxm1 is essential to maintain normal beta-cell mass and regulate postnatal beta-cell turnover. These results suggest that mechanisms regulating embryonic beta-cell proliferation differ from those used postnatally to maintain the differentiated cell population.

The proliferation-specific Forkhead Box m1 (Foxm1 or Foxm1b) transcription factor (previously called HFH-11B, Trident, Win, or MPP2) regulates expression of cell cycle genes essential for progression into DNA replication and mitosis. Expression of Foxm1 is found in a variety of distinct human cancers including hepatocellular carcinomas, intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas, basal cell carcinomas, ductal breast carcinomas, and anaplastic astrocytomas and glioblastomas. In this study, we show that human Foxm1 protein is abundantly expressed in highly proliferative human non–small cell lung cancers (NSCLC) as well as in mouse lung tumors induced by urethane. To determine the role of Foxm1 during the development of mouse lung tumors, we used IFN-inducible Mx-Cre recombinase transgene to delete mouse Foxm1 fl/fl–targeted allele before inducing lung tumors with urethane. We show that Mx-Cre Foxm1−/− mice exhibit diminished proliferation of lung tumor cells causing a significant reduction in number and size of lung adenomas. Transient transfection experiments with A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells show that depletion of Foxm1 levels by short interfering RNA caused diminished DNA replication and mitosis and reduced anchorage-independent growth of cell colonies on soft agar. Foxm1-depleted A549 cells exhibit reduced expression of cell cycle–promoting cyclin A2 and cyclin B1 genes. These data show that Foxm1 stimulates the proliferation of tumor cells during progression of NSCLC. (Cancer Res 2006; 66(4): 2153-61)

The proliferation-specific Forkhead Box M1 (FoxM1 or FoxM1b) transcription factor is overexpressed in a number of aggressive human carcinomas. Mouse hepatocytes deficient in FoxM1 fail to proliferate and are highly resistant to developing carcinogen-induced liver tumors. We previously developed a transgenic (TG) mouse line in which the ubiquitous Rosa26 promoter was used to drive expression of the human FoxM1b cDNA transgene in all mouse cell types. To investigate the role of FoxM1b in prostate cancer progression, we bred Rosa26-FoxM1b mice with both TRAMP and LADY TG mouse models of prostate cancer. We show that increased expression of FoxM1b accelerated development, proliferation, and growth of prostatic tumors in both TRAMP and LADY double TG mice. Furthermore, development of prostate carcinomas in TRAMP/Rosa26-FoxM1b double TG mice required high levels of FoxM1 protein to overcome sustained expression of the alternative reading frame tumor suppressor, a potent inhibitor of FoxM1 transcriptional activity. Depletion of FoxM1 levels in prostate cancer cell lines PC-3, LNCaP, or DU-145 by small interfering RNA transfection caused significant reduction in proliferation and anchorage-independent growth on soft agar. This phenotype was associated with increased nuclear levels of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor protein p27Kip1 and diminished expression of S-phase promoting cyclin A2 and M-phase promoting cyclin B1 proteins. Finally, we show that elevated levels of FoxM1 protein correlate with high proliferation rates in human prostate adenocarcinomas. Our results suggest that the FoxM1 transcription factor regulates development and proliferation of prostate tumors, and that FoxM1 is a novel target for prostate cancer treatment. Cancer Res 2006; 66(3): 1712-20

We previously demonstrated that formation of complexes between the DNA-binding domains of hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 (HNF6) and forkhead box a2 (Foxa2) proteins stimulated Foxa2 transcriptional activity. Here, we used HepG2 cell cotransfection assays to demonstrate that HNF6 transcriptional activity was stimulated by CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPalpha), but not by the related C/EBPbeta or C/EBPdelta proteins. Formation of the C/EBPalpha-HNF6 protein complex required the HNF6 cut domain and the C/EBPalpha activation domain (AD) 1/AD2 sequences. This C/EBPalpha-HNF6 transcriptional synergy required both the N-terminal HNF6 polyhistidine and serine/threonine/proline box sequences, as well as the C/EBPalpha AD1/AD2 sequences, the latter of which are known to recruit the CREB binding protein (CBP) transcriptional coactivator. Consistent with these findings, adenovirus E1A-mediated inhibition of p300/CBP histone acetyltransferase activity abrogated C/EBPalpha-HNF6 transcriptional synergy in cotransfection assays. Co-immunoprecipitation assays with liver protein extracts demonstrate an association between the HNF6 and C/EBPalpha transcription factors and the CBP coactivator protein in vivo. Furthermore, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays with hepatoma cells demonstrated that increased levels of both C/EBPalpha and HNF6 proteins were required to stimulate association of these transcription factors and the CBP coactivator protein with the endogenous mouse Foxa2 promoter region. In conclusion, formation of the C/EBPalpha-HNF6 protein complex stimulates recruitment of the CBP coactivator protein for expression of Foxa2, a transcription factor critical for regulating expression of hepatic gluconeogenic genes during fasting.

The Forkhead box m1 (Foxm1) gene is critical for G(1)/S transition and essential for mitotic progression. However, the transcriptional mechanisms downstream of FoxM1 that control these cell cycle events remain to be determined. Here, we show that both early-passage Foxm1(-)(/)(-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and human osteosarcoma U2OS cells depleted of FoxM1 protein by small interfering RNA fail to grow in culture due to a mitotic block and accumulate nuclear levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor (CDKI) proteins p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1). Using quantitative chromatin immunoprecipitation and expression assays, we show that FoxM1 is essential for transcription of the mitotic regulatory genes Cdc25B, Aurora B kinase, survivin, centromere protein A (CENPA), and CENPB. We also identify the mechanism by which FoxM1 deficiency causes elevated nuclear levels of the CDKI proteins p21(Cip1) and p27(Kip1). We provide evidence that FoxM1 is essential for transcription of Skp2 and Cks1, which are specificity subunits of the Skp1-Cullin 1-F-box (SCF) ubiquitin ligase complex that targets these CDKI proteins for degradation during the G(1)/S transition. Moreover, early-passage Foxm1(-)(/)(-) MEFs display premature senescence as evidenced by high expression of the senescence-associated beta-galactosidase, p19(ARF), and p16(INK4A) proteins. Taken together, these results demonstrate that FoxM1 regulates transcription of cell cycle genes critical for progression into S-phase and mitosis.

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 Foxf1 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 beta-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/EBPbeta 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.

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.

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.

Previous liver regeneration studies demonstrated that the mouse forkhead box M1B (FoxM1B) transcription factor regulates hepatocyte proliferation through expression of cell cycle genes that stimulate cyclin-dependent kinase 2 (Cdk2) and Cdk1 activity. In this study, we demonstrated that disruption of the FoxM1B Cdk1/2 phosphorylation site at Thr residue 596 significantly reduced both FoxM1B transcriptional activity and Cdk phosphorylation of the FoxM1B T596A mutant protein in vivo. Retention of this FoxM1B 596 Cdk phosphorylation site was found to be essential for recruiting the histone acetyltransferase CREB binding protein (CBP) to the FoxM1B transcriptional activation domain. Consistent with these findings, dominant negative Cdk1 protein significantly reduced FoxM1B transcriptional activity and inhibited FoxM1B recruitment of the CBP coactivator protein. Likewise, Cdc25B-mediated stimulation of Cdk activity together with elevated levels of the CBP coactivator protein provided a 6.2-fold synergistic increase in FoxM1B transcriptional activity. Furthermore, mutation of the FoxM1B Leu 641 residue within an LXL motif (residues 639 to 641) inhibited recruitment of Cdk-cyclin complexes and caused significant reduction in both FoxM1B transcriptional activity and in vivo Cdk phosphorylation of the FoxM1B Thr 596 residue. We demonstrated that FoxM1B transcriptional activity requires binding of either S-phase or M-phase Cdk-cyclin complexes to mediate efficient Cdk phosphorylation of the FoxM1B Thr 596 residue, which is essential for recruitment of p300/CBP coactivator proteins.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Here, we provide evidence that the Forkhead Box (Fox) m1b (Foxm1b or Foxm1) transcription factor is essential for the development of HCC. Conditionally deleted Foxm1b mouse hepatocytes fail to proliferate and are highly resistant to developing HCC in response to a Diethylnitrosamine (DEN)/Phenobarbital (PB) liver tumor-induction protocol. The mechanism of resistance to HCC development is associated with nuclear accumulation of the cell cycle inhibitor p27Kip1 protein and reduced expression of the Cdk1-activator Cdc25B phosphatase. We showed that the Foxm1b transcription factor is a novel inhibitory target of the p19ARF tumor suppressor. Furthermore, we demonstrated that conditional overexpression of Foxm1b protein in osteosarcoma U2OS cells greatly enhances anchorage-independent growth of cell colonies on soft agar. A p19ARF 26–44 peptide containing nine D-Arg to enhance cellular uptake of the peptide was sufficient to significantly reduce both Foxm1b transcriptional activity and Foxm1b-induced growth of U2OS cell colonies on soft agar. These results suggest that this (D-Arg)9-p19ARF 26–44 peptide is a potential therapeutic inhibitor of Foxm1b function during cellular transformation. Our studies demonstrate that the Foxm1b transcription factor is required for proliferative expansion during tumor progression and constitutes a potential new target for therapy of human HCC tumors.

The forkhead box (Fox) f1 transcription factor is expressed in the mouse splanchnic (visceral) mesoderm, which contributes to development of the liver, gallbladder, lung, and intestinal tract. Pulmonary hemorrhage and peripheral microvascular defects were found in approximately half of the newborn Foxf1(+/-) mice, which expressed low levels of lung Foxf1 mRNA [low- Foxf1(+/-) mice]. Microvascular development was normal in the surviving newborn high- Foxf1(+/-) mice, which compensated for pulmonary Foxf1 haploinsufficiency and expressed wild-type Foxf1 levels. To identify expression of genes regulated by Foxf1, we used Affymetrix microarrays to determine embryonic lung RNAs influenced by Foxf1 haploinsufficiency. Embryonic Foxf1(+/-) lungs exhibited diminished expression of hepatocyte growth factor receptor c-Met, myosin VI, the transcription factors SP-3, BMI-1, ATF-2, and glucocorticoid receptor, and cell cycle inhibitors p53, p21Cip1, retinoblastoma, and p107. Furthermore, Notch-2 signaling was decreased in embryonic Foxf1(+/-) lungs, as evidenced by significantly reduced levels of the Notch-2 receptor and the Notch-2 downstream target hairy enhancer of split-1. The severity of the Notch-2-signaling defect in 18-day postcoitus Foxf1(+/-) lungs correlated with Foxf1 mRNA levels. Disruption of pulmonary Notch-2 signaling continued in newborn low- Foxf1(+/-) mice, which died of lung hemorrhage and failed to compensate for Foxf1 haploinsufficiency. In contrast, in newborn high- Foxf1(+/-) lungs, Notch-2 signaling was restored to the level found in wild-type mice, which was associated with normal microvascular formation and survival. Foxf1 haploinsufficiency disrupted pulmonary expression of genes in the Notch-2-signaling pathway and resulted in abnormal development of lung microvasculature.

Summary and Future Directions. The liver-en-riched transcription factors (C/EBP, HNF1, HNF3,HNF4, and HNF6) bind to multiple promoter/enhancersites and synergistically interact with each other to stim-ulate hepatocyte-specific gene transcription. Liver devel-opment requires retention of numerous proliferation-specific transcription factors that required proliferation,migration, and survival of hepatic progenitor cells. TheHNF6 and HNF1 proteins are critical for gallbladderand bile duct development, while the mesodermal Foxf1transcription factor is essential for gallbladder develop-ment. The HNF1 , HNF4 , Foxa2, and Foxa3 tran-scription factors regulate expression of genes critical forhepatocyte differentiation during embryonic and postna-talliverdevelopment.ThenuclearorphanreceptorsLXR,FXR, and PPAR are also known to play critical roles inregulating expression of hepatic genes involved in lipid,cholesterol, and bile acid metabolism. These nuclear re-ceptor knockout mouse studies have been summarized in

The Forkhead Box (Fox) proteins are an extensive family of transcription factors that shares homology in the winged helix DNA-binding domain and the members of which play essential roles in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and longevity. Reduced cellular proliferation during aging is associated with a progressive decline in both growth hormone (GH) secretion and Foxm1b expression. Liver regeneration studies with 12-month-old (old-aged) transgenic mice indicated that increased hepatocyte expression of Foxm1b alone is sufficient to restore hepatocyte proliferation to levels found in 2-month-old (young) regenerating liver. GH therapy in older people has been shown to cause an increase in cellular proliferation, but the transcription factors that mediated this stimulation in proliferation remain uncharacterized. In this study, we showed that human GH administration to old-aged Balb/c mice dramatically increased both expression of Foxm1b and regenerating hepatocyte proliferation. This increase in old-aged regenerating hepatocyte proliferation was associated with elevated protein expression of Cdc25A, Cdc25B, and cyclin B1, with reduced protein levels of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p27Kip1 (p27). GH treatment also was found to stimulate hepatocyte proliferation and expression of Foxm1b protein without partial hepatectomy (PHx). Furthermore, GH treatment of young Foxm1b −/− mice failed to restore regenerating hepatocyte DNA replication and mitosis caused by Foxm1b deficiency. These genetic studies provided strong evidence that the presence of Foxm1b is essential for GH to stimulate regenerating hepatocyte proliferation. In conclusion, our old-aged liver regeneration studies show that increased Foxm1b levels are essential for GH to stimulate hepatocyte proliferation, thus providing a mechanism for GH action in the elderly. (Hepatology 2003;38:1552-1562.)

Increased hepatic expression of the Forkhead transcription factor FoxM1B in adult mice accelerates hepatocyte proliferation after partial hepatectomy, while in hepatocytes in intact liver the transgenic (Tg) protein is inactive and has no effect on proliferation. To investigate the influence of FoxM1B on liver tumor formation, we examined the effect of sustained enrichment of FoxM1B in the hepatocytes of mice treated with a diethylnitrosamine (DEN)/phenobarbital tumor induction protocol. Tg enrichment of FoxM1B in hepatocytes did not increase the proliferation rate in normal liver tissue even when the protein was localized to the nucleus. However, it did cause an increase in the proliferation rate and size of preneoplastic and early neoplastic lesions, although having no effects on the total numbers of these lesions. As tumors progressed to hepatocellular carcinomas, the additional Tg FoxM1B protein had no effect on cell proliferation, and there was no increase in tumor burden compared to wild-type animals. This suggests that the artificial enrichment of FoxM1B in the liver, which has been suggested as a gene therapy protocol for liver dysfunction with aging, may not be tumorigenic in that organ.

The delayed early transcription factor Forkhead Box M1B (FoxM1B) is expressed in proliferating cells, but its expression is extinguished in cells undergoing terminal differentiation. Liver regeneration studies with genetically altered mice that either prematurely expressed FoxM1B in hepatocytes or contained a hepatocyte-specific deletion of the Foxm1b allele demonstrated that FoxM1B is critical for regulating the expression of cell cycle genes required for hepatocyte proliferation. Furthermore, preventing the decline in hepatocyte FoxM1B levels during aging was sufficient to increase regenerating hepatocyte proliferation and expression of cell cycle genes to levels found in young regenerating mouse liver. Although these liver regeneration studies demonstrated that FoxM1B is required for hepatocyte proliferation, whether FoxM1B regulates proliferation of cell types other than hepatocytes remains to be determined. Here, we developed a new TG mouse line in which the -800-base pair Rosa26 promoter was used to drive expression of the FoxM1B transgene in all mouse tissues and found that Rosa26-FoxM1B TG mice were healthy, displaying no developmental defects. We used butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) lung injury to demonstrate that premature expression of the FoxM1B transgene protein accelerated proliferation of different lung cell types, including alveolar type II epithelial cells, bronchial epithelial and smooth muscle cells, and endothelial cells of pulmonary capillaries and arteries. This was associated with the earlier expression of the cell cycle promoting cyclin A2, cyclin E, cyclin B1, cyclin F, and cyclin dependent kinase-1 (Cdk1) genes and diminished protein levels of Cdk inhibitor p21Cip1. Taken together, these results suggest that increasing FoxM1B levels is an effective means to stimulate cellular proliferation during aging and in lung diseases such as emphysema.

The Forkhead box (Fox) transcription factor Foxa2 (HNF-3beta) and related family members Foxa1 (HNF-3alpha) and Foxa3 (HNF-3gamma) act in concert with other hepatocyte nuclear factors (HNF) to coordinately regulate liver-specific gene expression. To circumvent the hepatic functional redundancy of the Foxa proteins, we used the T-77 transgenic (TG) mouse line in which the -3-kb transthyretin (TTR) promoter functioned to increase hepatocyte expression of the Foxa2 cDNA. Adult TG mice exhibited reduced hepatic glycogen and progressive liver injury, but maintained normal serum levels of glucose, insulin, and glucagon. In this study, we further characterized the postnatal liver defect in TTR-FoxA2 TG mice. The postnatal TG mice displayed significant reduction in serum glucose levels and in hepatocyte glycogen storage without increased serum levels of ketone bodies and free fatty acid suggesting that they are not undergoing a starvation response. We show that TG liver developed a substantial transient steatosis, which reached a maximum at postnatal day 5 and is associated with increased expression of hepatic genes involved in fatty acid and triglyceride synthesis, lipid beta-oxidation, and amino acid biosynthesis. Furthermore, transmission electron microscopy analysis of postnatal TG liver revealed extensive mitochondrial membrane damage, which is likely due to reactive oxygen species generated from lipid beta-oxidation. In conclusion, our model proposes that in response to reduction in hepatocyte glycogen storage, the TTR-Foxa2 TG mice survive by maintaining sufficient serum levels of glucose through gluconeogenesis using deaminated amino acids with dicarboxylate products of peroxisomal lipid beta-oxidation shuttled through the tricarboxylic acid cycle.

Previous studies have shown that haploinsufficiency of the splanchnic and septum transversum mesoderm Forkhead Box (Fox) f1 transcriptional factor caused defects in lung and gallbladder development and that Foxf1 heterozygous (+/−) mice exhibited defective lung repair in response to injury. In this study, we show that Foxf1 is expressed in hepatic stellate cells in developing and adult liver, suggesting that a subset of stellate cells originates from septum transversum mesenchyme during mouse embryonic development. Because liver regeneration requires a transient differentiation of stellate cells into myofibroblasts, which secrete type I collagen into the extracellular matrix, we examined Foxf1 +/− liver repair following carbon tetrachloride injury, a known model for stellate cell activation. We found that regenerating Foxf1 +/− liver exhibited defective stellate cell activation following CCl 4 liver injury, which was associated with diminished induction of type I collagen, α–smooth muscle actin, and Notch-2 protein and resulted in severe hepatic apoptosis despite normal cellular proliferation rates. Furthermore, regenerating Foxf1 +/− livers exhibited decreased levels of interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), delayed induction of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) levels, and aberrantly elevated expression of transforming growth factor β1. In conclusion, Foxf1 +/− mice exhibited abnormal liver repair, diminished activation of hepatic stellate cells, and increased pericentral hepatic apoptosis following CCl 4 injury. (H EPATOLOGY 2003;37:107-117.)

The Forkhead Box (Fox) proteins are an extensive family of transcription factors that shares homology in the winged helix DNA-binding domain and whose members play essential roles in cellular proliferation, differentiation, transformation, longevity, and metabolic homeostasis. Liver regeneration studies with transgenic mice demonstrated that FoxM1B regulates the onset of hepatocyte DNA replication and mitosis by stimulating expression of cell cycle genes. Here, we demonstrate that albumin-promoter-driven Cre recombinase-mediated hepatocyte-specific deletion of the Foxm1b Floxed (fl) targeted allele resulted in significant reduction in hepatocyte DNA replication and inhibition of mitosis after partial hepatectomy. Reduced DNA replication in regenerating Foxm1b −/− hepatocytes was associated with sustained increase in nuclear staining of the cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p21 Cip1 (p21) protein between 24 and 40 h after partial hepatectomy. Furthermore, increased nuclear p21 levels and reduced expression of Cdc25A phosphatase coincided with decreases in Cdk2 activation and hepatocyte progression into S-phase. Moreover, the significant reduction in hepatocyte mitosis was associated with diminished mRNA levels and nuclear expression of Cdc25B phosphatase and delayed accumulation of cyclin B1 protein, which is required for Cdk1 activation and entry into mitosis. Cotransfection studies demonstrate that FoxM1B protein directly activated transcription of the Cdc25B promoter region. Our present study shows that the mammalian Foxm1b transcription factor regulates expression of cell cycle proteins essential for hepatocyte entry into DNA replication and mitosis.

Recent liver regeneration studies indicate that maintaining hepatic Forkhead Box M1B (FoxM1B) expression in 12-month-old (old-aged) Transthyretin-FoxM1B transgenic mice increases hepatocyte proliferation and expression of cell cycle regulatory genes. Because these transgenic CD-1 mice maintain FoxM1B levels during the aging process, we conducted the current study to determine whether adenovirus delivery of the FoxM1B gene (AdFoxM1B) is sufficient to stimulate liver regeneration in old-aged Balb/c mice. Here we show that AdFoxM1B infection of old-aged mice caused a significant increase in FoxM1B expression, hepatocyte DNA replication, and mitosis following partial hepatectomy. This stimulation in hepatocyte S-phase progression was associated with diminished protein expression and perinuclear localization of cyclin-dependent kinase (Cdk) inhibitor p27(Kip1) (p27) protein following partial hepatectomy. In contrast, old-aged mice infected with control virus displayed high hepatocyte levels of p27 protein, which had been localized to the nucleus prior to S-phase. Furthermore, we found that restoring FoxM1B expression did not influence p27 mRNA levels, and this new finding implicates FoxM1B in regulation of p27 protein levels. Likewise, AdFoxM1B-infected regenerating livers displayed elevated S-phase levels of Cdk2 kinase activity compared with old-aged mice infected with control virus. Furthermore, restoring FoxM1B expression in old-aged mice caused elevated levels of Cyclin B1, Cyclin B2, Cdc25B, Cdk1, and p55CDC mRNA as well as stimulating Cdc25B nuclear localization during liver regeneration, all of which are required for mitosis. These studies indicated that an acute delivery of the FoxM1B gene in old-aged mice is sufficient to re-establish proliferation of regenerating hepatocytes, suggesting that FoxM1B can be used for therapeutic intervention to alleviate the reduction in cellular proliferation observed in the elderly.

The Forkhead Box (Fox) family of transcription factors plays important roles in regulating expression of genes involved in cellular proliferation and differentiation. In a previous study, we showed that newborn foxf1(+/−) mice with diminished Foxf1 levels exhibited abnormal formation of pulmonary alveoli and capillaries and died postnatally. Interestingly, surviving newborn foxf1(+/−) mice exhibited increased pulmonary Foxf1 levels and normal adult lung morphology, suggesting that wild-type Foxf1 levels are required for lung development and function. The present study was conducted to determine whether adult foxf1(+/−) mice were able to undergo lung repair similar to that observed in wild-type mice. We demonstrated that adult foxf1(+/−) mice died from severe lung hemorrhage after butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) lung injury and that this phenotype was associated with a 10-fold decrease in pulmonary Foxf1 expression and increased alveolar endothelial cell apoptosis that disrupted capillary integrity. Furthermore, BHT-induced lung hemorrhage of adult foxf1(+/−) mice was associated with a drastic reduction in expression of the Flk-1, bone morphogenetic protein-4, surfactant protein B, platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule, and vascular endothelial cadherin genes, whereas the expression of these genes was either transiently diminished or increased in wild-type lungs after BHT injury. Because these proteins are critical for lung morphogenesis and endothelial homeostasis, their decreased mRNA levels are likely contributing to BHT-induced lung hemorrhage in foxf1(+/−) mice. Collectively, our data suggest that sustained expression of Foxf1 is essential for normal lung repair and endothelial cell survival in response to pulmonary cell injury.

Hepatocyte nuclear factor 6 (HNF-6) is a member of the one cut family of transcription factors and potentially regulates expression of numerous target genes important for hepatocyte function. In the liver, HNF-6 is expressed not only in hepatocytes, but also in biliary epithelial cells (BEC). To evaluate the in vivo function of HNF-6, we examined the hepatic expression pattern of HNF-6 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein after bile duct ligation (BDL)-mediated liver injury. We found that HNF-6 protein levels in BEC and hepatocytes were diminished within 15 hours of BDL injury and remained suppressed through the fifth day of injury. The onset of BEC proliferation in response to bile duct obstruction was associated with diminished HNF-6 protein levels. To maintain hepatic HNF-6 protein levels during BDL liver injury, we used mouse tail vein injections with recombinant adenovirus expressing HNF-6 complementary DNA (cDNA) (AdH6). We found that maintaining hepatic HNF-6 levels with AdH6 infection resulted in significant decreases in BEC proliferation at 15 and 24 hours after biliary obstruction compared with adenovirus control. Our results showed that HNF-6 expression is diminished in BEC and hepatocytes and that maintaining hepatic HNF-6 expression hinders the normal biliary proliferative response to bile duct injury. This suggests that diminished hepatic HNF-6 levels are required for repair in response to biliary injury and that it regulates expression of genes that possess differentiation-specific function that are inhibitory to proliferation. In conclusion, we propose a biologic role for diminished HNF-6 protein levels in bile duct disease.

Previously, we showed that newborn forkhead box ( Fox)f1(+/−) mice with diminished pulmonary FoxF1 levels died of severe lung hemorrhage and exhibited abnormal formation of alveolar sacs and capillaries. Another group recently reported that Foxf1(+/−) mouse embryos displayed a number of organ and skeletal defects including fusion of lung lobes. However, identification of pulmonary genes whose altered expression was associated with the lobular fusion defect in Foxf1(+/−) lungs remains uncharacterized. The present study was conducted to determine the nature of the malformations leading to lung fusions in the FoxF1 embryos and to identify potential signaling pathways influenced by FoxF1 haploinsufficiency. We show that Foxf1(+/−) embryos exhibit defects in formation and branching of primary lung buds, which causes fusion of the right lung lobes and vessels. The severity of the Foxf1(+/−) lung fusions was correlated with decreased levels of FoxF1 mRNA. In situ hybridization studies demonstrated that the defective primary lung-bud development in early Foxf1(+/−) embryos was associated with fewer pulmonary mesenchymal-epithelial interfaces. Defects in branching morphogenesis in the Foxf1(+/−) embryos were associated with altered expression of the fibroblast growth factor-10, bone morphogenetic protein-4, and the Gli3 transcription factor, which are known to influence primary lung-bud development.

The hepatocyte nuclear factor 3 (HNF-3) proteins are members of the Forkhead Box (Fox) family of transcription factors that play important roles in regulating expression of genes involved in cellular proliferation, differentiation, and metabolic homeostasis. In previous studies we increased liver expression of HNF-3beta by using either transgenic mice (transthyretin HNF-3beta) or recombinant adenovirus infection (AdHNF3beta), and observed diminished hepatic levels of glycogen, and glucose transporter 2 (Glut-2), as well as the HNF-6, HNF-3, HNF-1alpha, HNF-4alpha, and C/EBPalpha transcription factors. We conducted the present study to determine whether maintaining HNF-6 protein expression during AdHNF3beta infection prevents reduction of hepatic levels of glycogen and the earlier-mentioned genes. Here, we show that AdHNF3beta- and AdHNF6-infected mouse liver displayed increased hepatic levels of glycogen, Glut-2, HNF-3gamma, HNF-1alpha, and HNF-4alpha at 2 and 3 days postinfection (PI). Furthermore, restoration of hepatic glycogen levels after AdHNF3beta and AdHNF6 coinfection was associated with increased Glut-2 expression. AdHNF6 infection alone caused a 2-fold increase in hepatic Glut-2 levels, suggesting that HNF 6 stimulates in vivo transcription of the Glut-2 gene. DNA binding assays showed that only recombinant HNF-6 protein, but not the HNF-3 proteins, binds to the mouse -185 to -144 bp Glut-2 promoter sequences. Cotransfection assays in human hepatoma (HepG2) cells with either HNF-3 or HNF-6 expression vectors show that only HNF-6 provided significant transcriptional activation of the Glut-2 promoter. In conclusion, these studies show that the hepatic Glut-2 promoter is a direct target for HNF-6 transcriptional activation.

The POU homeodomain protein Oct-4 and the Forkhead Box protein FoxD3 (previously Genesis) are transcriptional regulators expressed in embryonic stem cells. Down-regulation of Oct-4 during gastrulation is essential for proper endoderm development. After gastrulation, FoxD3 is generally down-regulated during early endoderm formation, although it specifically remains expressed in the embryonic neural crest. In these studies, we have found that Oct-4 and FoxD3 can bind to identical regulatory DNA sequences. In addition, Oct-4 physically interacted with the FoxD3 DNA-binding domain. Cotransfection of Oct-4 and FoxD3 expression vectors activated the osteopontin enhancer, which is expressed in totipotent embryonic stem cells. FoxA1 and FoxA2 (previously HNF-3α and HNF-3β) are Forkhead Box transcription factors that participate in liver and lung formation from foregut endoderm. Although FoxD3 activated the FoxA1 and FoxA2 promoters, Oct-4 inhibited FoxD3 activation of the FoxA1 and FoxA2 endodermal promoters. These data indicate that Oct-4 functions as a corepressor of FoxD3 to provide embryonic lineage-specific transcriptional regulatory activity to maintain appropriate developmental timing.

We previously generated a transgenic mouse line (T-77) in which increased hepatic expression of the hepatocyte nuclear factor-3beta (HNF-3beta) protein was used to assess its role in hepatocyte-specific gene transcription. The T-77 transgenic mice displayed elevated serum bile acid and bilirubin levels and a complete absence of hepatic glycogen storage. These postnatal liver defects were associated with diminished expression of hepatocyte genes involved in gluconeogenesis and bile acid transport as well as reduced levels of hepatocyte transcription factors. In this study, we show that mouse tail vein injections of adenovirus expressing the rat HNF-3beta (AdHNF3beta) cDNA efficiently increased its levels throughout the liver lobule and recapitulated the T-77 transgenic liver phenotype within several days postinfection. Likewise, the AdHNF3beta-infected liver phenotype was associated with reduced hepatic expression of genes involved in glucose homeostasis, bile acid transport, and bilirubin conjugation, which were not found with control adenovirus infections. These studies show that adenovirus-mediated gene transfer is an effective method for rapid hepatic increases in transcription factor levels to determine in vivo target genes. In contrast, AdHNF3alpha-infected liver displayed only a transient reduction in hepatic glycogen levels and was associated with less severe decreases in hepatic expression of gluconeogenic and bilirubin metabolism genes. Consistent with these findings, only T-77 transgenic and AdHNF3beta-infected liver exhibited diminished hepatic expression of the HNF-6 transcription factor, suggesting that reduced HNF-6 levels contribute to diminished HNF-3beta-specific transcriptional activity.

The hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is critical for the life cycle of the virus. HBx associates with several host cell proteins including the DDB1 subunit of the damaged-DNA binding protein DDB. Recent studies on the X protein encoded by the woodchuck hepadnavirus have provided correlative evidence indicating that the interaction with DDB1 is important for establishment of infection by the virus. In addition, the interaction with DDB1 has been implicated in the nuclear localization of HBx. Because the DDB2 subunit of DDB is required for the nuclear accumulation of DDB1, we investigated the role of DDB2 in the nuclear accumulation of HBx. Here we show that expression of DDB2 increases the nuclear levels of HBx. Several C-terminal deletion mutants of DDB2 that fail to bind DDB1 are able to associate with HBx, suggesting that DDB2 may associate with HBx independently of binding to DDB1. We also show that DDB2 enhances the nuclear accumulation of HBx independently of binding to DDB1, since a mutant that does not bind DDB1 is able to enhance the nuclear accumulation of HBx. HBV infection is associated with liver pathogenesis. We show that the nuclear levels of DDB1 and DDB2 are tightly regulated in hepatocytes. Studies with regenerating mouse liver indicate that during late G 1 phase the nuclear levels of both subunits of DDB are transiently increased, followed by a sharp decrease in S phase. Taken together, these results suggest that DDB1 and DDB2 would participate in the nuclear functions of HBx effectively only during the late-G 1 phase of the cell cycle.

Partial hepatectomy (PH) or toxic liver injury induces the proliferation of terminally differentiated hepatic cells to regenerate the original size of the adult liver. Previous PH liver regeneration studies showed that premature transgenic expression of the Forkhead Box M1b (FoxM1b, HFH-11B) transcription factor accelerated hepatocyte entry into DNA replication (S-phase). In this study, we used carbon tetrachloride (CCl 4 ) liver injury to induce a different type of mouse liver regeneration and show that premature hepatic HFH-11B levels also accelerate the onset of hepatocyte S-phase in this injury model. Unlike PH liver regeneration, earlier hepatocyte proliferation after CCl 4 liver injury is correlated with diminished transgenic hepatic levels of p21 CIP1/WAF1 at the G1/S transition of the cell cycle. Differential hybridization of cDNA arrays and RNase protection studies determined that CCl 4 regenerating liver of transgenic mice displayed early stimulated expression of the S-phase promoting cyclin D1 and cyclin E and sustained levels of Cdc25a phosphatase genes. Compared with previous PH liver regeneration studies, our data suggest that premature expression of HFH-11B activates distinct S-phase promotion pathways in the CCl 4 liver injury model. Although proliferating transgenic hepatocytes induced by either PH or CCl 4 liver injury displayed early expression of identical M-phase cyclin genes (cyclin B1, B2, A2, and F), only CCl 4 regenerating transgenic liver exhibited earlier expression of the M-phase promoting Cdc25b. These studies suggest that CCl 4 injury of transgenic liver not only uses the same mechanisms as PH to mediate accelerated hepatocyte entry into mitosis, but also promotes M-phase entry by stimulating Cdc25b expression. (H EPATOLOGY 2001;33:1404-1414.)

The winged helix transcription factor, hepatocyte nuclear factor-3beta (HNF-3beta), mediates the hepatocyte-specific transcription of numerous genes important for liver function. However, the in vivo role of HNF-3beta in regulating these genes remains unknown because homozygous null HNF3beta mouse embryos die in utero prior to liver formation. In order to examine the regulatory function of HNF-3beta, we created transgenic mice in which the -3-kb transthyretin promoter functions to increase hepatocyte expression of the rat HNF-3beta protein. Postnatal transgenic mice exhibit growth retardation, depletion of hepatocyte glycogen storage, and elevated levels of bile acids in serum. The retarded growth phenotype is likely due to a 20-fold increase in hepatic expression of insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP-1), which results in elevated levels in serum of IGFBP-1 and limits the biological availability of IGFs required for postnatal growth. The defects in glycogen storage and serum bile acids coincide with diminished postnatal expression of hepatocyte genes involved in gluconeogenesis (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase and glycogen synthase) and sinusoidal bile acid uptake (Ntcp), respectively. These changes in gene transcription may result from the disruptive effect of HNF-3beta on the hepatic expression of the endogenous mouse HNF-3alpha,-3beta, -3gamma, and -6 transcription factors. Furthermore, adult transgenic livers lack expression of the canalicular phospholipid transporter, mdr2, which is consistent with ultrastructure evidence of damage to transgenic hepatocytes and bile canaliculi. These transgenic studies represent the first in vivo demonstration that the HNF-3beta transcriptional network regulates expression of hepatocyte-specific genes required for bile acid and glucose homeostasis, as well as postnatal growth.