title: Role of c-Maf in Chondrocyte Differentiation: A Review.
abstract: Chondrocyte differentiation in the growth plate is an important process for the longitudinal growth of endochondral bones. Sox9 and Runx2 are the most often-studied transcriptional regulators of the chondrocyte differentiation process, but the importance of additional factors is also becoming apparent. Mafs are a subfamily of the basic ZIP (bZIP) transcription factor superfamily, which act as key regulators of tissue-specific gene expression and terminal differentiation in many tissues. There is increasing evidence that c-Maf and its splicing variant Lc-Maf play a role in chondrocyte differentiation in a temporal-spatial manner. This review summarizes the functions of c-Maf in chondrocyte differentiation and discusses the possible role of c-Maf in osteoarthritis progression.
authors.affiliation: University of California Davis Medical Center, Division of Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Eunmee
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.affiliation: University of California Davis Medical Center, Division of Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Di Cesare
authors.affiliation: University of California Davis Medical Center, Division of Orthopaedic Research, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Sacramento, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Dominik R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Haudenschild
keywords: articular cartilage; chondrocytes; chondrogenesis; mesenchymal stem cells; signaling molecules