Forkhead box F1 induces columnar phenotype and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in esophageal squamous cells to initiate Barrett's like metaplasia.

ABSTRACT: Multiple genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have linked Forkhead Box F1 (FOXF1) to Barrett's esophagus (BE). Understanding whether FOXF1 is involved in initiation of Barrett's metaplasia could allow FOXF1 to be used for risk stratification and for therapy. Two-dimensional cell cultures and three-dimensional organoid cultures and well-annotated human biopsies were used to determine the role of FOXF1 in BE pathogenesis. Multiple established esophageal squamous and BE cell lines were tested in gain- and loss-of-function studies. Initiation of a BE-like metaplastic change was evaluated by measuring characteristic cytokeratins and global gene expression profiling and by culturing organoids. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was evaluated by immunostaining for E-cadherin, vimentin and

SUBMITTER: De A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9296259 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature