The Transcription Factor HAND1 Is Involved in Cortical Bone Mass through the Regulation of Collagen Expression

Temporal and/or spatial alteration of collagen family gene expression results in bone defects. However, how collagen expression controls bone size remains largely unknown. The basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor HAND1 is expressed in developing long bones and is involved in their morphogenesis. To understand the functional role of HAND1 and collagen in the postnatal development of long bones, we overexpressed in the osteochondroprogenitors of model mice and found that the bone volumes of cortical bones decreased in mice. Continuous expression downregulated the gene expression of type I, V, and XI collagen in the diaphyses of long bones and was associated with decreased expression of and , encoding transcription factors involved in the transactivation of fibril-forming collagen genes. Members of the microRNA-196 family, which target the 3' untranslated regions of and , were significantly upregulated in mice. Mass spectrometry revealed that the expression ratios of alpha 1(XI), alpha 2(XI), and alpha 2(V) in the diaphysis increased during postnatal development in wild-type mice, which was delayed in mice. Our results demonstrate that HAND1 regulates bone size and morphology through osteochondroprogenitors, at least partially by suppressing postnatal expression of collagen fibrils in the cortical bones.