title: Forkhead transcription factor FoxF2 is expressed in mesodermal tissues involved in epithelio-mesenchymal interactions.
abstract: The growing family of forkhead transcription factors plays many important roles during embryonic development. In this study we have used in situ hybridization to explore the expression pattern of the forkhead transcription factor gene FoxF2 (FREAC-2, LUN) during mouse and rat embryogenesis, postnatal development, and in adult tissues. We demonstrate that FoxF2 is expressed in the mesenchyme adjacent to the epithelium in alimentary, respiratory, and urinary tracts, similar to FoxF1 (FREAC-1, HFH-8). FoxF2 mRNA was also observed in organs that do not express FoxF1 during embryogenesis, e.g., in the central nervous system, eye, ear, and limb buds. In organs that express both FoxF2 and FoxF1, these transcription factors may have similar functions in epithelio-mesenchymal cross-talk, but the fact that FoxF2 is more widely expressed than FoxF1 suggests that FoxF2 also has an independent role as a developmental regulator.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental Biology, Medical School, Tampere University, Finland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aitola
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Carlsson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mahlapuu
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Enerbäck
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pelto-Huikko
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000235:genetics; D002490:Central Nervous System / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000235:genetics; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology* / Q000502:physiology; D005121:Extremities / Q000196:embryology; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000502:physiology*; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D008168:Lung / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D008648:Mesoderm / Q000737:chemistry / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013131:Spine / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D014566:Urogenital System / Q000196:embryology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; D051858:Forkhead Transcription Factors; C486293:Foxf1 protein, mouse; C486412:Foxf2 protein, mouse; C114562:LUN protein, vertebrate; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015534:Trans-Activators