title: Role of N-cadherin in bone formation.
abstract: Cell-cell adhesion mediated by cadherins is essential for the function of bone forming cells during osteogenesis. Here, the evidence that N-cadherin is an important regulator of osteoblast differentiation and osteogenesis is reviewed. Osteoblasts express a limited number of cadherins, including the classic N-cadherin. The expression profile of N-cadherin in osteoblasts during bone formation in vivo and in vitro suggests a role of this molecule in osteogenesis. Functional studies using neutralizing antibodies or antisense oligonucleotides indicate that N-cadherin is involved in the control the expression of osteoblast marker gene expression and differentiation. Cleavage of N-cadherin during osteoblast apoptosis also suggests a role of N-cadherin-mediated-cell-cell adhesion in osteoblast survival. Hormonal and local factors that regulate osteoblast function also regulate N-cadherin expression and subsequent cell-cell adhesion associated with osteoblast differentiation or survival. Signaling mechanisms involved in N-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and osteoblast gene expression have also been identified. Alterations of N-cadherin expression are associated with abnormal osteoblast differentiation and osteogenesis in pathological conditions. These findings indicate that N-cadherin plays a role in normal and pathological bone formation and provide some insight into the process involved in N-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesion and differentiation in osteoblasts.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U 349, affiliated CNRS, Biology and Pathology of Osteoblast, Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, France. pierre.marie@inserm.lrb.ap-hop-paris.fr
authors.forename: Pierre J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Marie
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001847:Bone Diseases / Q000209:etiology; D015820:Cadherins / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000502:physiology; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000502:physiology; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D015820:Cadherins