Overexpression of Osx activates VDR gene expression in C2C12 mesenchymal cells.

<p>(A) Western immunoblot analysis of the Dox-regulated Osx-expressing C2C12 cells. Osx expression is turned on in the absence of Dox. Beta-actin was used as a loading control. (B) VDR mRNA levels in a stable, Tet-off C2C12 mesenchymal cell line. RNA was obtained from cultures treated with or without Doxycycline. Osx expression is induced in the absence of Doxycycline in this line. VDR mRNA levels were quantitated by real-time RT-PCR. The VDR RNA level obtained from the cells cultured with Dox was normalized to a value of 1. Values are presented as the mean ±S.D. (C) RNA expression level for the osteoblastic marker gene alkaline phosphatase (ALP). (D) RNA expression level for osteoblastic gene osteocalcin (OC). Conditions are identical to those described in panel B. A paired <i>t</i>-test was performed comparing Dox (−) and Dox (+) groups. *: A star indicates statistical significance compared to Dox (+) group.