title: Overexpression of CNP in chondrocytes rescues achondroplasia through a MAPK-dependent pathway.
abstract: Achondroplasia is the most common genetic form of human dwarfism, for which there is presently no effective therapy. C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) is a newly identified molecule that regulates endochondral bone growth through GC-B, a subtype of particulate guanylyl cyclase. Here we show that targeted overexpression of CNP in chondrocytes counteracts dwarfism in a mouse model of achondroplasia with activated fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR-3) in the cartilage. CNP prevented the shortening of achondroplastic bones by correcting the decreased extracellular matrix synthesis in the growth plate through inhibition of the MAPK pathway of FGF signaling. CNP had no effect on the STAT-1 pathway of FGF signaling that mediates the decreased proliferation and the delayed differentiation of achondroplastic chondrocytes. These results demonstrate that activation of the CNP-GC-B system in endochondral bone formation constitutes a new therapeutic strategy for human achondroplasia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Shogoin Kawahara-cho Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan.
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yasoda
authors.forename: Yasato
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Komatsu
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chusho
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miyazawa
authors.forename: Ami
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozasa
authors.forename: Masako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Miura
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kurihara
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Rogi
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Michio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suda
authors.forename: Naohisa
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tamura
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Kazuwa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
mesh_terms: D000130:Achondroplasia / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D002455:Cell Division; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System; D051379:Mice; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type / Q000378:metabolism*; D009924:Organ Culture Techniques; D010641:Phenotype; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D019076:Transgenes
chemical_list: D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017468:Receptors, Fibroblast Growth Factor; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; C496366:Fgfr3 protein, mouse; D011505:Protein-Tyrosine Kinases; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3