Special AT-rich sequence-binding protein 2 and its related genes play key roles in the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblast like cells

► SATB2 overexpression by retroviral infection induces osteoblastic differentiation in osteoblast-like MC3T3-E1 cells. ► SATB2 overexpression increases mineralization matrix deposition in MC3T3-E1 cells. ► SATB2 overexpression up-regulates SOX2, BMP2, WNT11 and MEN1 genes in MC3T3-E1 cells. ► SATB2 overexpression down-regulates ILK, FGF23, FGFR2 and SNAI1 genes in MC3T3-E1 cells.