DFCs stably overexpressing Runx2. DFCs and NIH3T3 were infected by retrovirus and selected by G418. (a1, a2) Green fluorescence could be detected in the stably transduced cells but without significant morphological changes. (b1, b2) Real‐time RT‐PCR confirmed that the transduced cells overexpressed Runx2 gene. (c1, c2) Representative images demonstrated that the presence of Runx2 protein in cell extract could be detected by Western blot with Runx2 antibody. (d1, d2) Protein levels were normalized with that of β‐actin. Runx2 was up‐regulated in pLEGFPIRES‐Runx2 and pLEGFP‐IRES‐Runx2(M) infected cells, respectively. **P < 0.01 vs. DFCs and DFCs‐EGFP, §§P < 0.01 vs. NIH3T3 and NIH3T3‐EGFP. Statistical significance was determined using t‐test.