title: Articular cartilage development: a molecular perspective.
abstract: In this article, development of articular cartilage and endochondral ossification is reviewed, from the perspective of both morphologic aspects of histogenesis and molecular biology, particularly with respect to key signaling molecules and extracellular matrix components most active in cartilage development. The current understanding of the roles of transforming growth factor β and associated signaling molecules, bone morphogenic proteins, and molecules of the Wnt-β catenin system in chondrogenesis are described. Articular cartilage development is a highly conserved complex biological process that is dynamic and robust in nature, which proceeds well without incident or failure in all joints of most young growing individuals.
authors.affiliation: University of Chile Clinical Hospital, University of Chile, 999 Santos Dumont Avenue, Santiago, Chile. facundo.lasheras@utoronto.ca
authors.forename: Facundo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Las Heras
authors.forename: Harpal K
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Gahunia
authors.forename: Kenneth P H
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Pritzker
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D008967:Molecular Biology; D015398:Signal Transduction; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019485:Bone Morphogenetic Proteins; D016212:Transforming Growth Factor beta