Fig. 7.

FOXM1 regulates the expression and transcription activity of MMP12 in HNC cells. (A) Potential FOXM1 binding sites in human MMP12 promoter region. (B,C) QRT‐PCR, western blotting and luciferase assays indicating the expression and luciferase activity of MMP12 in FOXM1‐depleted HNC cells. Quantification of relative FOXM1 and MMP12 expressions are shown. (D) ChIP assays were performed to confirm the binding of FOXM1 to the MMP12 promoter in SAS and HSC‐3 cells using an anti‐FOXM1 antibody. Isotype IgGs were used as a negative control. (E) The protein expression level of MMP12 was investigated in FOXM1‐depleted cells transfected with Flag‐MMP12 by western blotting. Quantification of relative Flag‐MMP12 expression is shown. (F,G) The growth and motility of siFOXM1 with MMP12 overexpression in HNC transfectants was determined. All data are presented as mean  ±  SD of three independent experiments. Significance was calculated using t‐test. In (F), statistical analyses were performed using one‐way ANOVA followed by Tukey’s multiple comparison’s test. * P < 0.05, ** P < 0.01, *** P < 0.001.