Transcriptional regulation of bone formation by the osteoblast-specific transcription factor Osx

Bone formation is a complex developmental process involving the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts. Osteoblast differentiation occurs through a multi-step molecular pathway regulated by different transcription factors and signaling proteins. Osx (also known as Sp7) is the only...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournal of orthopaedic surgery and research Vol. 5; no. 1; p. 37
Main Author Zhang, Chi
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England BioMed Central Ltd 15.06.2010
BioMed Central
BMC
Subjects
Genetic aspects
Genetic transcription
Osteoblasts
Physiological aspects
Review
Transcription factors
United States
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Summary:Bone formation is a complex developmental process involving the differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts. Osteoblast differentiation occurs through a multi-step molecular pathway regulated by different transcription factors and signaling proteins. Osx (also known as Sp7) is the only osteoblast-specific transcriptional factor identified so far which is required for osteoblast differentiation and bone formation. Osx knock-out mice lack bone completely and cartilage is normal. This opens a new window to the whole research field of bone formation. Osx inhibits Wnt pathway signaling, a possible mechanism for Osx to inhibit osteoblast proliferation. These reports demonstrate that Osx is the master gene that controls osteoblast lineage commitment and the subsequent osteoblast proliferation and differentiation. This review is to highlight recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of bone formation by Osx.
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ISSN:1749-799X
1749-799X
DOI:10.1186/1749-799x-5-37