Thyroid-specific gene expression in chondrocytes

► Chondrocytes in cartilage tissues express thyroid specific genes. ► Thyroglobulin mRNA in trachea is about 5% of that in thyroid glands. ► Cultured chondrocytes, ATDC-5 cells, also express thyroglobulin gene. ► Thyroid transcription factor-1 confers thyroglobulin gene expression in chondrocytes.