Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase Signaling in CD4-Expressing Cells Inhibits Osteochondromas.

ABSTRACT: Defects in cartilage homeostasis can give rise to various skeletal disorders including osteochondromas. Osteochondromas are benign bone tumors caused by excess accumulation of chondrocytes, the main cell type of cartilage. The extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) pathway is a major signaling node that functions within chondrocytes to regulate their growth and differentiation. However, it is not known whether the ERK pathway in other cell types regulates cartilage homeostasis. We show here that mice with a germline deficiency of Erk1 and a conditional deletion of Erk2 in cells that express CD4, or expressed CD4 at one point in development, unexpectedly developed bone deformities. The bone lesions were due to neoplastic outgrowths of chondrocytes and disordered growth pl

SUBMITTER: Wehenkel M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5410564 | biostudies-literature | 2017

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature