Cartilage development and degeneration: a Wnt Wnt situation.
The Wnt signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and homeostasis of a variety of adult tissues and, as such, is emerging as an important therapeutic target for numerous diseases. Factors involved in the Wnt pathway are expressed throughout limb development and chondrogenesis and have been shown to be critical in joint homeostasis and endochondral ossification. Therefore, in this review, we discuss Wnt regulation of chondrogenic differentiation, hypertrophy and cartilage function. Moreover, we detail the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in cartilage degeneration and its potential to act as a target for therapy in osteoarthritis.
The Roslin Institute and Royal-Dick School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, Scotland. katherine.staines@roslin.ed.ac.uk
Katherine Ann
KA
Staines
Vicky Elizabeth
VE
Macrae
Colin
C
Farquharson
D000818:Animals; D002356:Cartilage / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*; D002357:Cartilage Diseases / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000378:metabolism*; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway; D060509:Wnt3A Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
D051153:Wnt Proteins; D060509:Wnt3A Protein; D051176:beta Catenin