Regulation of chondrocyte differentiation by Cbfa1

Cbfa1, a developmentally expressed transcription factor of the runt family, was recently shown to be essential for osteoblast differentiation. We have investigated the role of Cbfa1 in endochondral bone formation using CbSa1-deficient mice. Histology and in situ hybridization with probes for Indian hedgehog (Ihh), collagen type X and osteopontin performed at E13.5, E14.5 and E17.5 demonstrated a lack of hypertrophic chondrocytes in the anlagen of the humerus and the phalanges and a delayed onset of hypertrophy in radius/ulna in Cbfa1(-/-) mice. Detailed analysis of Cbfa1 expression using whole mount in situ hybridization and a lacZ reporter gene revealed strong expression not only in osteoblasts but also in pre-hypertrophic and hypertrophic chondrocytes. Our studies identify Cbfa1 as a major positive regulator of chondrocyte differentiation. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.