Fig. 7

Cellular and molecular mechanism of APEX1 function during fracture healing. a APEX1 function is needed in mesenchymal progenitors during the inflammatory phase to an efficient expression of Bmp2 and in chondrocytes during the reparative phase driving chondrocyte differentiation for a proper fracture healing progression. b Suggested molecular mechanism of APEX1 function during fracture healing. APEX1 together with Thioredoxin (TXN) allows the reduction of specific cysteines during transcription factors DNA binding and final activation. During the inflammatory phase APEX1 and TXN activate transcription factors controlling Bmp2 expression in mesenchymal progenitor cells. During the reparative phase APEX1 and TXN activate transcription factors controlling genes driving the chondrocyte differentiation and fracture healing progression