The Forkhead Transcription Factor FOXP2 Is Required for Regulation of p21WAF1/CIP1 in 143B Osteosarcoma Cell Growth Arrest

What is it about?

FOXP2 mutations were first identified in people with an inherited speech-and-language disorder. However, its functions are not completely understood and are most widely studied in the brain. Here we have shown that FOXP2 is expressed in developing osteoblasts, which produce bone when they are mature. FOXP2 stops these cells dividing and arrests their growth. A possible mechanism may be the ability of FOXP2 to regulate an inhibitor of cell division called p21.

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Why is it important?

Our study links FOXP2 with other molecules such as p21 and IL-6 which were already functionally linked and important in osteoblast lineage cells and identifies a new biological role for FOXP2. The involvement of FOXP2 in bone biology is interesting in view of our previous finding that is expressed in malignant multiple myeloma, a tumour derived from cells of the immune system which causes bone destruction.