Fig. 1. DEX enhances Runx2-induced osteoblastic gene expression. Primary dermal fibroblasts were transduced with Runx2 or empty vector retrovirus, and cultured in osteogenic media with and without 10 nM DEX. mRNA expression was investigated by quantitative RT-PCR at 1, 3 and 7 days post-transduction [mean + s.e.m., n=16; ANOVA: P<1E-11 (i.e. 1x10^-11); ^*different from empty vector control, ^**different from empty vector and DEX controls, different from Runx2 (P< 0.05)]. Relative gene expression is expressed on a logarithmic scale. Detection limits for each gene were determined by reactions without cDNA and are shown as a dotted line. Graphs without dotted lines have detection limits that fall below y-axis minimum value.