RUNX2 and osteoarthritis: In osteoarthritis, pro-inflammatory cytokines, namely interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1α) and tumor necrosis factor-beta (TNF-β) can compromise the repair by inhibiting the differentiation associated with alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the gene expression for ALP, α1(I) procollagen, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) and osterix [12].