title: Skeletal (stromal) stem cells: an update on intracellular signaling pathways controlling osteoblast differentiation.
abstract: Skeletal (marrow stromal) stem cells (BMSCs) are a group of multipotent cells that reside in the bone marrow stroma and can differentiate into osteoblasts, chondrocytes and adipocytes. Studying signaling pathways that regulate BMSC differentiation into osteoblastic cells is a strategy for identifying druggable targets for enhancing bone formation. This review will discuss the functions and the molecular mechanisms of action on osteoblast differentiation and bone formation; of a number of recently identified regulatory molecules: the non-canonical Notch signaling molecule Delta-like 1/preadipocyte factor 1 (Dlk1/Pref-1), the Wnt co-receptor Lrp5 and intracellular kinases. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Stem Cells and Bone.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory (KMEB), Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital & University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Basem M
authors.initials: BM
authors.lastname: Abdallah
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory (KMEB), Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital & University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; DanStem (Danish Stem Cell Center), Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jafari
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory (KMEB), Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital & University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; Stem Cell Unit, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Walid
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zaher
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory (KMEB), Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital & University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qiu
authors.affiliation: Molecular Endocrinology Laboratory (KMEB), Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital & University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark; DanStem (Danish Stem Cell Center), Panum Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; Stem Cell Unit, Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Saudi Arabia. Electronic address: mkassem@health.sdu.dk.
authors.forename: Moustapha
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kassem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000166:cytology*; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D006801:Humans; D042541:Intracellular Space / Q000378:metabolism*; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism
keywords: Dlk1; Kinases; Lrp5; MSC; Osteoblast differentiation; Pref-1