Forkhead Box Protein C2 (FOXC2)

FOXC2 is also involved in cancer metastases. Particularly, expression of FOXC2 is induced when epithelial cells undergo an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and become mesenchymal looking cells. EMT can be induced by a number of genes including Snail, Twist, Goosecoid, and TGF-beta 1. Suppression of FOXC2 expression using shRNA in a highly metastatic breast cancer model blocks their metastatic ability.

The nature of these Foxc2-generated responses was consistent with protection against obesity and related symptoms, such as diet-induced insulin resistance. Furthermore, in wildtype mice, Foxc2 mRNA levels were upregulated by high-fat diet, whereas mice with targeted disruption of 1 Foxc2 allele had a decreased interscapular BAT cell mass.