SREBP contributes to induction of collagen VI transcription by serum starvation.

Collagen VI is a main extracellular matrix protein whose mutation is linked to myopathic diseases. In myoblasts and other cell types, collagen VI gene transcription peaks during cell-cycle exit that precedes differentiation, upon serum withdrawal or confluence. To get insight into this transcriptional regulation, we characterized a growth arrest responsive region (GARR) in the Col6a1 promoter responsible for this effect.

Tissue-specific gene expression in chondrocytes grown on three-dimensional hyaluronic acid scaffolds.

The re-differentiation capacities of human articular and chick embryo sternal chondrocytes were evaluated by culture on HYAFF-11 and its sulphate derivative, HYAFF-11-S, polymers derived from the benzyl esterification of hyaluronate. Initial results showed that the HYAFF-11-S material promoted the highest rate of chondrocyte proliferation. RNA isolated from human and chick embryo chondrocytes cultured in Petri dishes, HYAFF-11 or HYAFF-11-S were subjected to semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses.