The Role of Forkhead Box Family in Bone Metabolism and Diseases

Jianxiang Xu; Kanbin Wang; Zengjie Zhang; Deting Xue; Weixu Li; Zhijun Pan

doi:10.3389/fphar.2021.772237

The Role of Forkhead Box Family in Bone Metabolism and Diseases

Front Pharmacol. 2022 Jan 28:12:772237. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2021.772237. eCollection 2021.

Authors

Jianxiang Xu^{1

2

3}, Kanbin Wang^{1

2

3

4}, Zengjie Zhang^{1

2

3}, Deting Xue^{1

2

3}, Weixu Li^{1

2

3}, Zhijun Pan^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China.
² Orthopedics Research Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Motor System Disease Research and Precision Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.
⁴ Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Yiwu, China.

Abstract

Forkhead box (Fox) family, an evolutionarily conserved family of transcription factors carrying the "Forkhead" motif, plays an indispensable role in human health and disease. Fox family genes are involved in cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis, embryonic development, aging, glucose and lipid metabolism, and immune regulation. The regulatory role of the Fox family in the context of bone metabolism and orthopedic diseases is an emerging research hotspot. In this review, we highlight the major molecular mechanisms underlying the regulatory role of Fox factors in bone metabolism, bone development, bone homeostasis, and bone diseases associated with inhibition or upregulation of Fox factors. In addition, we discuss the emerging evidence in the realm of Fox factor-based therapeutics.

Keywords: Fox factors-based therapeutics; Fox family; bone diseases; bone metabolism; signaling pathways.

Publication types

Review