Fig. 3: Genes upstream and downstream of FOXF2 in organs.

a FOXF2 can upregulate the levels of Gpr124, P-Smad 2/3, Pdgfrβ, ABCB1, SLCO2B1, and TNFRSF19 during the development of blood vessels in the brain, which maintains the integrity of the BBB. b FOXF2 could induce the expression of some lung-specific genes to ensure lung function, i.e. SPA, SPB, and SPC. c FOXF2 modestly stimulates the expression of fgf3 and dlx2b, which prevent defects in tooth buds. d FOXF2 decreases the levels of Foxf1, Pdgfα, Pdgfrα, myocardin, and Wnt5a while stimulating Bmp4 expression, thus preventing excessive proliferation and metastasis of the gastrointestinal epithelium. e Hh and Gli tentatively stimulate FOXF2 expression in tongue development. f The Hh signal could indirectly stimulate FOXF2 expression, avoiding the occurrence of a cleft lip. g The Shh-FOXF2-Fgf18-Shh circuit controls the development of palate. At the same time, the levels of Ptch1 and Shox2 were attenuated in FOXF2 knockout mice. FOXF2 could indirectly stimulate Tgfβr3 expression and inhibit a Smad-independent TGF pathway namely, Traf6/Trak1/P38. h Activation of the TGF-β signalling pathway causes downregulation of FOXF2, which results in a cleft palate. FOXF2 tentatively stimulates Eya1 and Pax3 expression in developing cochlea. Protein names contain all uppercase letters for humans (e.g., ABCB1); all lowercase letters for zebrafish (e.g., fgf3); only the first letter capitalized for mice (e.g., Ptch1). ABCB1, ATP binding cassette subfamily B member 1; SLCO2B1, solute carrier organic anion transporter family member 2B1; TNFRSF19, TNF receptor superfamily member 19, dlx2b, distal-less homeobox 2b; Shox2, short stature homeobox 2; Ptch1, patched 1; and Pax3, paired box 3.