[摘 要] 目的：探讨叉头框K1（FOXK1）在喉鳞状细胞癌（LSCC）中的表达、临床意义及对细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭的影响，并阐明其分子机制。方法：RT-qPCR、免疫组化检测LSCC组织及LSCC细胞TU177中FOXK1表达，分析其与临床病理参数及预后的相关性；通过瞬时转染构建FOXK1过表达与敲低细胞模型，通过MTS法、克隆形成实验、划痕愈合实验和Transwell实验检测细胞恶性生物学行为的变化；采用RT-qPCR检测上皮-间充质转化（EMT）相关因子mRNA的表达；采用WB法检测PI3K/AKT信号通路相关蛋白的表达；结合生物信息学预测与功能回复实验，验证FOXK1对AKT2的调控作用。结果：FOXK1在LSCC组织及细胞中高表达（P < 0.01），且主要定位于细胞核；FOXK1高表达与较晚TNM分期相关（P < 0.05），且FOXK1高表达患者5年生存率较低（P < 0.05）；过表达FOXK1显著增强TU177细胞增殖、迁移与侵袭能力并诱导EMT（P < 0.01或P < 0.05），敲低FOXK1则产生相反的效应；FOXK1可上调AKT2表达并激活PI3K/AKT信号通路；敲低AKT2可部分逆转FOXK1过表达对细胞增殖、迁移、侵袭及EMT进程的促进作用（P < 0.01或P < 0.05）。结论：FOXK1在LSCC中高表达，与肿瘤进展及不良预后密切相关。FOXK1可能通过上调AKT2激活PI3K/AKT信号通路，诱导EMT，从而促进LSCC细胞的恶性生物学行为。

[Abstract] Objective:To detect the expression of transcription factor FOXP4 (Forkhead box P4) in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) tissues and cell lines, and to investigate its effects on the proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle, and apoptosis of LSCC TU177 cells in vitro as well as to explore its relationship with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. Methods: A total of 40 pairs of tumor tissues and adjacent tissues that resected from LSCC patients were collected from the biological specimen bank of the Forth Hospital of Hebei Medical University between 2013 and 2015. The expression of FOXP4 in LSCC tissues and corresponding adjacent tissues was detected by qPCR. qPCR and Western blotting were used to detect the FOXP4 expression level in human LSCC cell lines (AMC-HN-8, TU177, TU686, and TU212). Small interfering RNA (si-RNA) was used to knock down FOXP4 expression in TU177 cells. The effects of FOXP4 knockdown on the proliferation, migration, invasion, cell cycle and apoptosis of TU177 cells were measured by MTS assay, clone formation assay, Transwell chamber migration and invasion assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. The mRNA levels of EMT markers N-cadherin, β-catenin, Vimentin, Twist, Snail and zine finger E box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) after transfection of si-FOXP4 in TU177 cells were detected by qPCR. The changes of protein levels of N-cadherin, β-catenin, Vimentin and Twist after FOXP4 knockdown were measured by Western blotting. Results: The expression of FOXP4 in LSCC tissues was significantly higher than that in adjacent tissues (P<0.05), and it was related to the TNM stage of tumors and lymph node metastasis (all P<0.05). The expression of FOXP4 in LSCC cells was higher than that in the adjacent tissues (P<0.05 or P<0.01). The expression of FOXP4 in TU177 cells transfected with si-FOXP4 was significantly lower than that in the control group (P<0.01). Compared with the control group, knocking down FOXP4 could inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion but promote the apoptosis of TU177 cells in vitro (all P<0.01), block the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase (P<0.01), and reduce cell replication in S phase (P<0.01); in addition, knocking down FOXP4 could reduce the mRNA levels of N-cadherin, β-catenin, Vimentin, Twist, Snail, ZEB1 (P<0.05 or P<0.01) and the protein levels of N-cadherin, β-catenin, Vimentin, Twist in TU177 cells. Conclusion: The high expression of FOXP4 may be related to the occurrence and development of LSCC. FOXP4 knockdown can inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of laryngeal cancer cells in vitro, block cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, promote apoptosis, and may participate in the EMT process.