Background information
Transcription factor required for formation of positional identity in the developing retina, regionalization of the optic chiasm and morphogenesis of the kidney. Can neuralize ectodermal cells directly By similarity. Binds to the consensus sequence 5'-A[AT]T[AG]TTTGTTT-3' and acts as a transcriptional repressor. Also acts as a transcriptional activator. Promotes development of neural crest cells from neural tube progenitors. Restricts neural progenitor cells to the neural crest lineage while suppressing interneuron differentiation. Required for maintenance of pluripotent cells in the pre-implantation and peri-implantation stages of embryogenesis. Probable transcription factor involved in embryogenesis and somatogenesis. FOXD1 is involved in regulating inflammation as well as kidney and retinal development. FOXD1 regulates the activity of NFAT and NFkB. Deficiency of FOXD1 results in multiorgan systemic inflammation, exaggerated Th cell-derived cytokine production, and T cell proliferation in autogolgous MLRs. In kidneys, FOXD1 controls the production of signals required for the normal transition of induced mesenchyme into tubular epithelium and full growth and branching of the collecting system. Deletion of FOXD1 results in renal abnormalities. FOXD2 acts as a modulator of T cell activation.
