title: Local regulation of growth plate cartilage.
abstract: Elongation of bones primarily occurs by endochondral ossification at the growth plate. In the growth plate, stem-like cells in the resting zone differentiate into rapidly dividing chondrocytes in the proliferative zone and then terminally differentiate into nondividing chondrocytes of the hypertrophic zone. The hypertrophic zone is then invaded by blood vessels and bone cell precursors, which remodel the newly formed cartilage into bone. The net effect is that new bone tissue is progressively generated at the bottom of the growth plate, resulting in bone elongation. The process of longitudinal bone growth is governed by a complex network of paracrine signals that maintain the unique structure and cellular kinetics of the growth plate. Recent progress in the understanding of important paracrine signals that regulate growth plate cartilage will be reviewed in this chapter.
authors.forename: Stephan-Stanislaw
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Späth
authors.forename: Anenisia C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Andrade
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chau
authors.forename: Ola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nilsson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000166:cytology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D053823:Hedgehog Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D019899:Paracrine Communication / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D053823:Hedgehog Proteins; D044162:Parathyroid Hormone-Related Protein; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors