Objective To study the effect of core-binding factor α1(Cbfa1)on the mesenchymal stem cells(MSCs) osteoblastic differentiation.Methods The MSCs were isolated from Japan white rabbits and cultured in vitro. The 3rd generation MSCs were infected with Cbfa1 recombinant adenovirus. The expression of Cbfa1 was detected by immunofluorescence after being infected for 3 days and the proliferation was estimated by MTT method from the 1st day to the 7th day. Then the MSCs were divided into four groups: the commonly cultured group, the simply induced group, the control adenovirus treatment group, and the Cbfa1 adenovirus treatment group. The expressions of mRNA for a various of osteoblast gene markers such as alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteopontin and type I collagen were analyzed based on reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The change of adipose and myoblastic differentiation gene marker PPARγ2 and MyoD expression were detected by RT-PCR respectively.Results Positive staining of Cbfa1 was found in the MSCs infected with Cbfa1 adenovirus, and there was no significant difference in cell proliferation among the experimental groups（Pgt;0.05）. The RT-PCR indicated that all the osteoblast gene markers except type I collagen were up-regulated in the Cbfa1 adenovirus treatment group. In contrast, the expressions of PPARγ2 and MyoD were restrained. Conclusion Cbfa1 can directly promote the differentiation of MSCs into osteoblasts.