Foxi1 regulates multipotent mucociliary progenitors and ionocyte specification through transcriptional and epigenetic mechanisms.

ABSTRACT: Foxi1 is a master regulator of ionocytes (ISCs/INCs) across species and organs. Two subtypes of ISCs exist, and both α- and β-ISCs regulate pH- and ion-homeostasis in epithelia. Gain and loss of FOXI1 function are associated with human diseases, including Pendred syndrome, male infertility, renal acidosis, and cancers. Foxi1 was predominantly studied in the context of ISC specification, however, reports indicate additional functions in early and ectodermal development. Here, we re-investigated the functions of Foxi1 in Xenopus laevis embryonic mucociliary epidermis developpment and found a novel function for Foxi1 in the generation of Notch-ligand expressing mucociliary multipotent progenitors (MPPs). We demonstrate that MPPs are a distinct sub-population of epidermal cells in which Foxi1

SUBMITTER: Bowden S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12768278 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature