Fig. 1: Foxf2 regulates the osteoblastic differentiation of MSCs.

a Changes in gene expression were examined between Days 0 and 2 after BMP-2 stimulation by RNA-seq analysis. Only representative genes with FPKM > 10 on Day 0 and whose expression showed a 2-fold increase by BMP-2 treatment are shown. Although ALP and Sp7 did not meet the requirements, they are included in the table as markers of osteoblast differentiation. b Changes in Foxf2 mRNA expression induced by BMP-2 treatment during ST2 cell differentiation, as determined by qPCR. ANOVA and Tukey HSD test. *, P < 0.05. c Changes in the expression of FOXF2 during osteoblast differentiation as determined at the protein level with Western blot analysis. d Foxf2 knockdown efficiency. ST2 cells were cultured and transiently transfected with siRNA-Foxf2. Among the siRNAs tested, #2 resulted in the greatest reduction in Foxf2 mRNA expression. *, P < 0.05. e Effect of Foxf2 knockdown on osteoblastic differentiation. ST2 cells were cultured and transiently transfected with siRNA-Foxf2. Note the significant increase in osteoblast differentiation markers in the Foxf2 knockdown cells. *, P < 0.05. f Foxf2 knockdown enhanced the osteogenesis of ST2 cells. Representative images of ALP staining of the ST2 cells transfected with siRNA-Foxf2. N = 3. g Effect of Foxf2 overexpression on osteoblast differentiation. ST2 cells were cultured and transiently transfected with Foxf2. Note the significant decrease in osteoblast differentiation markers in the Foxf2-expressing cells. *, P < 0.05.