Negative Transcriptional Regulation of Connexin 43 by Tbx2 in Rat Immature Coronal Sutures and ROS 17/2.8 Cells in Culture

Abstract Background: Tbx2 is a member of the T-box family of transcriptional regulatory genes with an extensive but not yet fully understood role in embryonic development. This study explores the potential role of Tbx2 in calvarial morphogenesis. Objectives: To explore the hypothesis that Tbx2 has a negative regulatory effect on the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43), a protein necessary for cell-to-cell communication; document the presence of Tbx2 protein in the developing cranial sutures; and determine the spatial pattern of expression of this developmentally regulated transcription factor in calvariae. Design: The osteoblast-like cell line ROS 17/2.8 was stably transfected with sense or antisense Tbx2. Immunohistochemistry and Western blotting was used to study Tbx2 and Cx43 expression in these cells and sections of embedded developing coronal sutures. Results: The ROS 17/2.8 cells transfected with antisense Tbx2 showed a decrease in expression of Tbx2 protein and an increase in expression of endogenous ...