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Updated: May 28, 2025
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Laser Capture Microdissection of Mouse Embryonic Cartilage and Bone for Gene Expression Analysis
Published on: December 18, 2019
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Sox8: a multifaceted transcription factor in development and disease
María Nazareth González Alvarado1, Jessica Aprato2
1Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna Biocenter (VBC), 1030, Vienna, Austria.
Biology Open
|February 12, 2025
Summary
Sox8, a transcription factor, plays a crucial role in adult tissue homeostasis and is implicated in various diseases. Despite its redundancy in development, Sox8 is vital for maintaining tissue function and holds potential as a therapeutic target.
Area of Science:
- Molecular Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Sox8 is a transcription factor related to Sox9 and Sox10.
- It is expressed in various tissues during prenatal development, involved in organogenesis and differentiation.
- Sox8 functions redundantly with Sox9/Sox10 during development, with no major observed disturbances in its absence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the versatile roles of Sox8 in development and adult tissues.
- To highlight the lesser-known contributions of Sox8 to various diseases.
- To explore the potential of Sox8 as a therapeutic target.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies on Sox8 function.
- Analysis of Sox8 expression patterns in prenatal and adult tissues.
- Examination of genetic variants and alterations of SOX8 linked to human diseases.
Main Results:
- Sox8 is essential for the homeostasis of adipose tissue, Sertoli cells, blood-testis-barrier, and central nervous system myelin maintenance.
- Genetic variants and alterations in SOX8 are associated with multiple sclerosis, familial essential tremor, cancer prognosis, and infertility.
- Sox8 exhibits a significant role in late development and adult tissues, beyond its developmental functions.
Conclusions:
- Sox8 is a critical regulator of adult tissue homeostasis.
- Dysregulation of SOX8 is linked to several human diseases, including neurological disorders and infertility.
- Sox8 represents a promising target for therapeutic interventions.
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