Forkhead box F1 overexpression initiates Barrett's like metaplasia by promoting trans-differentiation and wound repair

The forkhead box (FOX) family of transcriptional regulators is characterized by a distinct forkhead DNA-binding domain11. FOXF1 gene is highly conserved across species and implicated in embryonic digestive tract morphogenesis. In an in-vitro established model, normal esophageal squamous cells, EPC2, were transfected with FOXF1 to determine pathways regulated by FOXF1 during the squamous to columnar change in cells. Overall design: Normal esophageal squamous cells, EPC2, were transfected in biological triplicates with FOXF1 plasmid or empty vector by using Lipofectamine 2000. Three groups were compared: untreated (Ctrl), group transfected with empty vector by using Lipofectamine 2000 (Lipo) and the group transfected with FOXF1 plasmid (Fox)