FoxO3a mediates transforming growth factor-beta1-induced apoptosis in FaO rat hepatoma cells.

FoxO3a is a member of the forkhead box class O (FoxO) transcription factor family and an important regulator of apoptosis. This work aimed to elucidate the involvement of FoxO3a in transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1)-induced apoptosis in FaO rat hepatoma cells. TGF-beta1 caused a time-dependent activation of FoxO3a and a subsequent increase in FoxO response-element-containing luciferase reporter activity, which was Akt-sensitive. The FaO cells stably transfected with a wild type FoxO3a were more susceptible to the formation of apoptotic bodies, populations of sub-G1 apoptotic cells, and collapse of the mitochondrial-membrane potential triggered by TGF-beta1. In contrast, transfection with small-interfering RNA (siRNA) oligonucleotide specific for FoxO3a significantly inhibited caspase activation in FaO cells treated with TGF-beta1. It thus appears that FoxO3a plays a crucial mediatory role in the TGF-beta1 signaling pathway leading to apoptosis.