HGF inhibits the BMP-2–induced expression of osteoblast-specific transcription factors. Relative mRNA levels of Runx2 (A) and Osterix (B) in C2C12 cells. Runx2 protein expression detected by Western blotting of nuclear extracts from C2C12 cells (C) and hMSCs (D) treated for 6 days. The concentrations of cytokines were 300 ng/mL BMP-2 and 100 ng/mL HGF.