siRNA-mediated silencing of FOXQ1 expression inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cells

Background: This study aimed to explore the expression of forkhead box Q1 (FOXQ1) and its effects on proliferation and apoptosis in human osteosarcoma cell line U2OS. Methods: The expression of FOXQ1 was detected by Western blotting in osteosarcoma cell line U2OS. U2OS cells were divided into three groups: experimental group (FOXQ1-siRNA group), negative control group (NC-siRNA group) and blank group (untransfection group). FOXQ1-targeted siRNA and control siRNA were transfected into U2OS cells in FOXQ1-siRNA group and NC-siRNA group, respectively. The mRNA and protein levels of FOXQ1 were determined by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting, respectively. U2OS cell proliferation was detected by MTT assay and apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. Results: FOXQ1-targeted siRNA transfection significantly inhibited FOXQ1 gene expression at both mRNA and protein levels (P<0.05). MTT assay result showed that the proliferation rate of U2OS cells was significantly lower in FOXQ1-siRNA group compared with NC-siRNA group (P<0.05) and untransfection group (P<0.05). Flow cytometry analysis showed that the apoptosis ratio was significantly higher in the experimental group than those of NC-siRNA group (P<0.05) and untransfection group (P<0.05). Conclusions: In vitro FOXQ1-targeted siRNA could effectively inhibit the expression of FOXQ1 at both mRNA and protein levels in human osteosarcoma cell line U2OS. Downregulation of FOXQ1 expression inhibits cell proliferation and induces cell apoptosis of U2OS cells.