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. 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)