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Critical physiological and pathological functions of Forkhead Box O tumor suppressors

Georgiana R Dumitrascu1, Octavian Bucur2

  • 1"Victor Babes" National Institute of Pathology and Biomedical Sciences, Bucharest, Romania.

Discoveries (Craiova, Romania)
|April 21, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Forkhead box, subclass O (FOXO) proteins regulate diverse cellular functions, impacting aging and cancer. New insights into FOXO regulators and microRNAs offer potential therapeutic strategies for various diseases.

Area of Science:

  • Molecular Biology
  • Cell Biology
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Forkhead box, subclass O (FOXO) proteins are vital transcription factors with widespread expression and diverse cellular roles.
  • FOXO proteins are implicated in critical processes including cell cycle control, apoptosis, DNA repair, stem cell biology, metabolism, and aging.
  • Their involvement in both normal and cancer stem cells highlights their significance in disease pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the physiological and pathological roles of FOXO proteins.
  • To explore FOXO proteins as regulators of cell fate and context-dependent cellular decisions.
  • To discuss novel regulators and non-coding RNAs targeting FOXO for therapeutic development.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of existing research on FOXO proteins.
  • Analysis of the functional diversity and regulatory mechanisms of FOXO transcription factors.
  • Synthesis of information on the implications of FOXO in various biological processes and diseases.

Main Results:

  • FOXO proteins orchestrate a broad spectrum of cellular functions, influencing fundamental biological processes.
  • Dysregulation of FOXO proteins is linked to aging and cancer stem cell biology.
  • Emerging understanding of FOXO regulators and microRNA targeting provides new avenues for therapeutic intervention.

Conclusions:

  • FOXO transcription factors are key regulators of cell fate, with significant implications in health and disease.
  • A deeper understanding of FOXO structure and function can drive the development of novel cancer therapies.
  • Targeting FOXO pathways holds promise for treating cancer and other age-related diseases.
Keywords:
FOXFOXOFOXO1FOXO3apoptosiscancercancer stem cellscell cycledifferentiationmetabolismmicroRNAssmall non-coding RNAsstem cells

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