title: Sixteen years and counting: the current understanding of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) signaling in skeletal dysplasias.
abstract: In 1994, the field of bone biology was significantly advanced by the discovery that activating mutations in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) receptor tyrosine kinase (TK) account for the common genetic form of dwarfism in humans, achondroplasia (ACH). Other conditions soon followed, with the list of human disorders caused by FGFR3 mutations now reaching at least 10. An array of vastly different diagnoses is caused by similar mutations in FGFR3, including syndromes affecting skeletal development (hypochondroplasia [HCH], ACH, thanatophoric dysplasia [TD]), skin (epidermal nevi, seborrhaeic keratosis, acanthosis nigricans), and cancer (multiple myeloma [MM], prostate and bladder carcinoma, seminoma). Despite many years of research, several aspects of FGFR3 function in disease remain obscure or controversial. As FGFR3-related skeletal dysplasias are caused by growth attenuation of the cartilage, chondrocytes appear to be unique in their response to FGFR3 activation. However, the reasons why FGFR3 inhibits chondrocyte growth while causing excessive cellular proliferation in cancer are not clear. Likewise, the full spectrum of molecular events by which FGFR3 mediates its signaling is just beginning to emerge. This article describes the challenging journey to unravel the mechanisms of FGFR3 function in skeletal dysplasias, the extraordinary cellular manifestations of FGFR3 signaling in chondrocytes, and finally, the progress toward therapy for ACH and cancer.
authors: Institute of Parasitology, Biology Centre AS CR, v.v.i., Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic.
authors: Silvie
authors: S
authors: Foldynova-Trantirkova
authors: William R
authors: WR
authors: Wilcox
authors: Pavel
authors: P
authors: Krejci
mesh_terms: D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000378:metabolism*; D002450:Cell Communication; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D005804:Genes, Lethal; D006801:Humans; D020935:MAP Kinase Signaling System / Q000235:genetics; D009154:Mutation; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D010009:Osteochondrodysplasias / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D012867:Skin / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; C494079:STAT1 protein, human; D020098:Natriuretic Peptide, C-Type; D005346:Fibroblast Growth Factors; D019869:Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases; C496365:FGFR3 protein, human; D051498:Receptor, Fibroblast Growth Factor, Type 3