Figure 9

Proposed model for the contributing effect of Runx2 downstream targets ST2 and Runx3 in promoting chondrocyte hypertrophy in ATDC5 chondrocytes. In our suggested model, Runx2 induces expression of chondrocyte differentiation regulators ST2 and Runx3. These differentiation regulators promote ATDC5 chondrocyte hypertrophy through inhibition of proliferative stage markers Sox9 and Col II and induction of hypertrophic stage markers Col X, OSC, VEGF, and MMP-13.