Fig. 3.

Wnt10b promotes osteoblastogenesis of pluripotent mesenchymal precursors. ST2 cells were infected with control or Wnt10b retroviruses. Two days postconfluence, RNA was isolated for quantitative PCR analysis of osteoblast genes: alkaline phosphatase (Alk. Phos.); Twist, Runx2, Msx2, Dlx5, osterix (Osx); and type I collagen (Coll I) (A) and adipocyte genes: C/EBPβ, C/EBPα, PPARγ, and FABP4 (B). Statistical differences from controls were evaluated with Student's t test: P < 0.05 (*), < 0.01 (#), < 0.001 (†), with n = 3 mice. Results are representative of at least four independent experiments. (C) Control and Wnt10b cells were infected with control and PPARγ retroviruses. Confluent cells were incubated in osteogenic media supplemented with troglitazone (5 μM). Mineral deposition was assessed on day 6 with von Kossa stain.