Many Roles of Transcriptional Factor Brachyury

Brachyury is essential to maintain notochord cell fate and function [1]. Chordoma is a rare malignant tumor originated from notochordal cell rests. Chordoma patients with higher Brachyury expression showed significantly shorter progression-free survival. Brachyury was suggested as a prognostic biomarker in chordoma. Further Brachyury was found to promote chordoma cell growth via PI3K/Akt signaling [2]. The origin of intervertebral disc cells is always considered to be associated with notochord cells. Brachyury was found to have the capability of reprogramming degenerative human intervertebral disc cells to a healthy phenotype [3]. Our research has also found that Brachyury can protect the intervertebral disc cells from degeneration.