Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D together stimulate human bone marrow-derived stem cells toward the osteogenic phenotype by HGF-induced up-regulation of VDR

► HGF treatment of hMSC induced VDR gene expression. ► HGF increased gene expression of the transcription factor p63. ► siRNA for p63 eliminated the HGF effects on VDR expression. ► p63 binds to the VDR promoter. ► siRNA knockdown of p63 reduced HGF effects on OPN and BSP expression.