Mesenchymal Stem Cells

• Brachyury
• Runx1
• RUNX2
• RUNX3
• SP7/Osterix

• Brachyury
  This transcription factor is the earliest indicator of mesoderm formation. Used as a marker of mesodermal differentiation, Brachyury is expressed during gastrula and neurula stages in involuting mesoderm and in the notochord.
  
  
• Runx1
  The transcription factor Runx1 marks all functional hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the embryo and is required for their generation. Mutations in Runx1 are found in approximately 25% of acute leukemias and in familial platelet disorder, suggesting a role for Runx1 in adult hematopoiesis as well. Runx1 is expressed in the majority of myeloid cells and in a smaller proportion of lymphoid cells. Runx1 expression substantially decreases during erythroid differentiation.
  
  
• RUNX2
  The Runx2 (CBFA1/AML3/PEBP2 A) transcription factor promotes skeletal cell differentiation, but it also has a novel cell growth regulatory activity in osteoblasts.
  
  
• RUNX3
  Runx3 transcription factor regulates cell lineage decisions in thymopoiesis and neurogenesis.
  
  
• SP7/Osterix
  Osterix is a C2H2 zinc finger transcription factor of the Specificity protein-7 (SP7) gene family and is a putative "master" regulator of bone cell differentiation (Gao et al., 2004). It is essential for osteoblast differentiation and binds to Sp1 and EKLF consensus sequences and to other G/C-rich sequences. The Sp7 knockout phenotype is similar to that of Runx2 knockouts.