title: Regulation of osteoblast differentiation by transcription factors.
abstract: Runx2, osterix, and beta-catenin are essential for osteoblast differentiation. Runx2 directs multipotent mesenchymal cells to an osteoblastic lineage, and inhibits them from differentiating into the adipocytic and chondrocytic lineages. After differentiating to preosteoblasts, beta-catenin, osterix, and Runx2 direct them to immature osteoblasts, which produce bone matrix proteins, blocking their potential to differentiate into the chondrocytic lineage. Runx2 inhibits osteoblast maturation and the transition into osteocytes, keeping osteoblasts in an immature stage. Other transcription factors including Msx1, Msx2, Dlx5, Dlx6, Twist, AP1(Fos/Jun), Knox-20, Sp3, and ATF4 are also involved in osteoblast differentiation. To gain an understanding of bone development, it is important to position these transcription factors to the right places in the processes of osteoblast differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Developmental and Reconstructive Medicine, Division of Cell Biology, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-7-1 Sakamoto, Nagasaki 852-8588, Japan. komorit@net.nagasaki-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Toshihisa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Komori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D019070:Cell Lineage; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology*; D000076182:Sp7 Transcription Factor; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D000076182:Sp7 Transcription Factor; C479466:Sp7 protein, mouse; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051176:beta Catenin