RUNX (Runt 相关转录因子)

Runt-related transcription factors (RUNX) is a transcription factor that regulates the bone development, cell growth and tumor metastasis. There are three RUNX transcription factors in mammals: RUNX1, RUNX2 and RUNX3. RUNX1 is expressed in mesenchymal cells and proliferating chondrocytes, and acts as a compensatory factor for RUNX2 to promote the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts; RUNX1 is also expressed in hematopoietic cells and certain cancer cells. RUNX2 is expressed in bones and chondrocytes, and is a key regulator of osteoblast differentiation and chondrocyte hypertrophy. RUNX2 is also highly expressed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of prostate cancer cells, that binds to microtubules in the cytoplasm and is associated with the tumor metastasis. RUNX3 is expressed in hypertrophic chondrocytes plays an anabolic function in cartilage metabolism, and maintains the health of cartilage by regulating the expression of genes such as Acan and Prg4. Runt-related transcription factors dysfunction leads to bone diseases like osteoporosis, skeletal abnormality or osteoarthritis. In addition, runt-related transcription factors is abnormal expressed in certain cancer cells, which is supposed to be associated with tumor development^[1][2].