Chinese Journal of Tissue Engineering Research ›› 2025, Vol. 29 ›› Issue (9): 1923-1930.doi: 10.12307/2025.238

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Forkhead box transcription factor O1 signaling pathway in bone metabolism

Zhao Jiyu1, 2, Wang Shaowei2   

  1. 1Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China; 2Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
  • Received:2024-01-20 Accepted:2024-02-24 Online:2025-03-28 Published:2024-10-11
  • Contact: Wang Shaowei, MD, Professor, Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China
  • About author:Zhao Jiyu, Master candidate, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China; Department of Orthopedics, The Second Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan 030001, Shanxi Province, China

Abstract: BACKGROUND: In the skeleton, various endogenous or exogenous stimuli cause imbalance in bone metabolism, leading to changes in bone mass and bone strength, which in turn cause a series of bone-related diseases such as osteoarthritis and osteoporosis. In this process, Forkhead box transcription factor O1 (FoxO1) plays an important role, and FoxO1 can regulate bone metabolism by regulating oxidative stress, cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis.
OBJECTIVE: This paper focuses on FoxO1, and by summarizing its upstream and downstream regulatory mechanisms, it provides new ideas for the future treatment of bone-related diseases.
METHODS: The search terms “FoxO1, Bone” were used for literature retrieval in CNKI and WanFang Databases, and the search terms “FoxO1, Bone, Skeleton” were used in PubMed and Web of Science databases. The old, repetitive, poor quality and irrelevant papers were excluded, and 56 papers were finally included for review and analysis.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) FoxO1 promotes the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells into osteoblasts by increasing the expression of runt-related transcription factor 2, alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin, and transforms bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells from lipogenic differentiation to osteogenic differentiation by inhibiting peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, thereby increasing bone formation. In addition, FoxO1 may also affect bone formation by increasing the number of osteoblasts. (2) Inhibition of FoxO1 in bone marrow mononuclear macrophages can reduce the expression of macrophage colony-stimulating factor, receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand and nuclear factor of activated T cells 1, promote the expression of FoxO1 in osteoclasts, and thus inhibit osteoclast differentiation. In addition, direct activation of FoxO1 also inhibits osteoclast differentiation and weakens osteoclast activity. (3) Upregulation of FoxO1 in chondrocytes can regulate chondrocyte homeostasis, protect chondrocytes from oxidative stress, and promote the expression of autophagy related genes and the secretion of proteoglycan 4 by chondrocytes. (4) This paper details the molecular mechanism of FoxO1 regulation in different bone cells in detail, and elaborates the key role of FoxO1 in the treatment of bone-related diseases more comprehensive and deeply, providing new ideas for the treatment of osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, delayed fracture healing and other bone-related diseases.


中国组织工程研究杂志出版内容重点:人工关节;骨植入物;脊柱;骨折;内固定;数字化骨科;组织工程

Key words: FoxO1, bone metabolism, oxidative stress, osteoblast, osteoclast, chondrocyte, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, fracture healing

CLC Number: