Table 1. Genes evaluated for differential expression and their corresponding roles in osteogenesis.
A list of the osteogenesis-related genes of interest evaluated in the mechanistic assessment. A brief summary of the role of each gene in osteogenesis, bone regeneration, and/or bone healing are provided.
| Gene | Role in Osteogenesis/Bone Regeneration/Healing |
|---|---|
| Dlx5 | Transcription factor regulating osteogenesis; drives Runx2 expression, a key regulator of osteogenesis[39–41] |
| Runx2 | Transcription factor regulating early osteogenic differentiation[36, 42] |
| Osx | Transcription factor regulating osteoblast differentiation and maturation[43, 44] |
| Cxcl12 | Stem and osteoprogenitor cell homing[45]; regulator of BMP-2-mediated osteogenesis[46–48]; chondrogenic differentiation[49] |
| Alpl | Early/mid osteoblast differentiation marker; hydroxyapatite nucleation[50, 51] |
| Col1a1 | Type 1 collagen in bone matrix; osteoblast differentiation marker, regulated by Runx2[52] |
| Ocn | Osteoblast and bone formation marker; mineral deposition[53] |
| Opn | Osteogenesis marker; mineralization regulator[54, 55] |
| Phex | Marker of fully differentiated osteoblasts and osteocytes; regulates FGF23 activity and phosphate metabolism[56–58] |
| Mmp2 | Bone repair and regeneration, osteoblast differentiation and survival[59, 60] |
| Mmp3 | Bone matrix maturation[59, 60] |
| Mmp7 | Promotes RANKL activity; bone repair and regeneration; bone remodeling[59, 60] |
| Mmp9 | Osteoclast recruitment; bone repair and regeneration; bone remodeling[59, 60] |
| Mmp13 | Chondrocyte differentiation, matrix resorption[59, 60] |
| Mmp14 | Promote RANKL activity, Bone repair and regeneration[59, 60] |
| M-csf | Osteoclast differentiation, maturation, and motility[61] |
| Rankl | Osteoclast regulation, bone homeostasis, bone remodeling[53, 62–64] |
| Opg | Antagonizes RANK signaling; bone remodeling and homeostasis[63, 64] |
| Col2 | Chondrogenic/endochondral marker[65, 66] |
| Col10 | Endochondral marker; chondrocyte hypertrophy[67, 68] |
| Col12a | Osteoblast differentiation and maturation[69]; chondrocyte function and morphogenesis[70] |
| Mmp1 | Marker of chondrogenic differentiation[71] |