RUNX2 Gene (runx2 + gene)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Differential parental transmission of markers in RUNX2 among cleft case-parent trios from four populations

GENETIC EPIDEMIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
Jae Woong Sull
Abstract Isolated cleft lip with or without cleft palate (CL/P) is among the most common human birth defects, with a prevalence around 1 in 700 live births. The Runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) gene has been suggested as a candidate gene for CL/P based largely on mouse models; however, no human studies have focused on RUNX2 as a risk factor for CL/P. This study examines the association between markers in RUNX2 and isolated, nonsyndromic CL/P using a case-parent trio design, while considering parent-of-origin effects. Case-parent trios from four populations (77 from Maryland, 146 from Taiwan, 35 from Singapore, and 40 from Korea) were genotyped for 24 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the RUNX2 gene. We performed the transmission disequilibrium test on individual SNPs. Parent-of-origin effects were assessed using the transmission asymmetry test and the parent-of-origin likelihood ratio test (PO-LRT). When all trios were combined, the transmission asymmetry test revealed a block of 11 SNPs showing excess maternal transmission significant at the P<0.01 level, plus one SNP (rs1934328) showing excess paternal transmission (P=0.002). For the 11 SNPs showing excess maternal transmission, odds ratios of being transmitted to the case from the mother ranged between 3.00 and 4.00. The parent-of-origin likelihood ratio tests for equality of maternal and paternal transmission were significant for three individual SNPs (rs910586, rs2819861, and rs1934328). Thus, RUNX2 appears to influence risk of CL/P through a parent-of-origin effect with excess maternal transmission. Genet. Epidemiol. 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Two independent rare events,a mutation in the RUNX2 gene and a de novo balanced translocation,in a fetus with cleidocranial dysplasia: pitfall in prenatal diagnosis

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 8 2006
Cédric Le Caignec
No abstract is available for this article. [source]


Aged Mice Require Full Transcription Factor, Runx2/Cbfa1, Gene Dosage for Cancellous Bone Regeneration After Bone Marrow Ablation,

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 9 2004
Kunikazu Tsuji
Abstract Runx2 is prerequisite for the osteoblastic differentiation in vivo. To elucidate Runx2 gene functions in adult bone metabolism, we conducted bone marrow ablation in Runx2 heterozygous knockout mice and found that aged (but not young) adult Runx2 heterozygous knockout mice have reduced new bone formation capacity after bone marrow ablation. We also found that bone marrow cells from aged Runx2 heterozygous knockout mice have reduced ALP+ colony-forming potential in vitro. This indicates that full Runx2 dosage is needed for the maintenance of osteoblastic activity in adult mice. Introduction: Null mutation of the Runx2 gene results in total loss of osteoblast differentiation, and heterozygous Runx2 deficiency causes cleidocranial dysplasia in humans and mice. However, Runx2 gene functions in adult bone metabolism are not known. We therefore examined the effects of Runx2 gene function in adult mice with heterozygous loss of the Runx2 gene. Materials and Methods: Bone marrow ablation was conducted in young adult (2.5 ± 0.5 months old) or aged adult (7.5 ± 0.5 months old) Runx2 heterozygous knockout mice and wildtype (WT) littermates. Cancellous bone regeneration was evaluated by 2D ,CT. Results: Although new bone formation was observed after bone marrow ablation in the operated bone marrow cavity of WT mice, such bone formation was significantly reduced in Runx2 heterozygous knockout mice. Interestingly, this effect was observed specifically in aged but not young adult mice. Runx2 heterozygous deficiency in aged mice significantly reduced the number of alkaline phosphatase (ALP)+ cell colonies in the bone marrow cell cultures, indicating a reduction in the numbers of osteoprogenitor cells. Such effects of heterozygous Runx2 deficiency on osteoblasts in vitro was specific to the cells from aged adult mice, and it was not observed in the cultures of marrow cells from young adult mice. Conclusion: These results indicate that full gene dosage of Runx2 is required for cancellous bone formation after bone marrow ablation in adult mice. [source]


Differential Expression Patterns of Runx2 Isoforms in Cranial Suture Morphogenesis

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 5 2001
Mi-Hyun Park
Abstract Runx2 (previously known as Cbfa1/Pebp2,A/AML3), a key transcription factor in osteoblast differentiation, has at least two different isoforms using alternative promoters, which suggests that the isoforms might be expressed differentially. Haploinsufficiency of the Runx2 gene is associated with cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), the main phenotype of which is inadequate development of calvaria. In spite of the biological relevance, Runx2 gene expression patterns in developing calvaria has not been explored previously, and toward this aim we developed three probes: pRunx2, which comprises the common coding sequence of Runx2 and hybridizes with all isoforms; pPebp2,A, which specifically hybridizes with the isoform transcribed with the proximal promoter; and pOsf2, which hybridizes with the isoform transcribed with the distal promoter. These probes were hybridized with tissue sections of mouse calvaria taken at various time points in development. Runx2 expression was localized to the critical area of cranial suture closure, being found in parietal bones, osteogenic fronts, and sutural mesenchyme. Pebp2,A and Osf2 showed tissue-specific expression patterns. The sites of Pebp2,A expression were almost identical to that of pRunx2 hybridization but expression was most intense in the sutural mesenchyme, where undifferentiated mesenchymal cells reside. The Osf2 isoform was strongly expressed in the osteogenic fronts, as well as in developing parietal bones, where osteopontin (OP) and osteocalcin (OC) also were expressed. However, in contrast to Pebp2,A, Osf2 expression did not occur in sutural mesenchyme. Pebp2,A also was expressed prominently in primordial cartilage that is found under the sutural mesenchyme and is not destined to be mineralized. Thus, Osf2 isoforms contribute to events later in osteoblast differentiation whereas the Pebp2,A isoform participates in a wide variety of cellular activities ranging from early stages of osteoblast differentiation to the final differentiation of osteoblasts. [source]