Wnt signaling in cartilage development and diseases: lessons from animal studies.

ABSTRACT: Cartilage not only plays essential roles in skeletal development and growth during pre- and postnatal stages but also serves to provide smooth movement of skeletons throughout life. Thus, dysfunction of cartilage causes a variety of skeletal disorders. Results from animal studies reveal that β-catenin-dependent canonical and independent non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways have multiple roles in regulation of cartilage development, growth, and maintenance. β-Catenin-dependent signaling is required for progression of endochondral ossification and growth of axial and appendicular skeletons, while excessive activation of this signaling can cause severe inhibition of initial cartilage formation and growth plate organization and function in mice. In contrast, non-canonical Wnt signaling is impo

SUBMITTER: Usami Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4838282 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature