The high mobility group transcription factor Sox8 is a negative regulator ofosteoblast differentiation

Bone remodeling is an important physiologic process that is required to maintain a constant bone mass. This is achieved through a balanced activity of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. In this study, we identify the high mobility group transcription factor Sox8 as a physiologi...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of cell biology Vol. 168; no. 6; p. 899
Main Authors Schmidt, Katy, Schinke, Thorsten, Haberland, Michael, Priemel, Matthias
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York Rockefeller University Press 14.03.2005
Subjects
Bones
Cellular biology
Gene expression
Genes
Online AccessGet full text

Cover

More Information
Summary:Bone remodeling is an important physiologic process that is required to maintain a constant bone mass. This is achieved through a balanced activity of bone-resorbing osteoclasts and bone-forming osteoblasts. In this study, we identify the high mobility group transcription factor Sox8 as a physiologic regulator of bone formation. Sox8-deficient mice display a low bone mass phenotype that is caused by a precocious osteoblast differentiation. Accordingly, primary osteoblasts derived from these mice show an accelerated mineralization ex vivo and a premature expression of osteoblast differentiation markers. To confirm the function of Sox8 as a negative regulator of osteoblast differentiation we generated transgenic mice that express Sox8 under the control of an osteoblast-specific Col1a1 promoter fragment. These mice display a severely impaired bone formation that can be explained by a strongly reduced expression of runt-related transcription factor 2, a gene encoding a transcription factor required for osteoblast differentiation. Together, these data demonstrate a novel function of Sox8, whose tightly controlled expression is critical for bone formation. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]
ISSN:0021-9525
1540-8140