title: Critical role of Bmpr1a in mandibular condyle growth.
abstract: The importance of Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs) in the regulation of cell fate, differentiation and proliferation in the growth plate is well-known. However, in secondary cartilages (such as that in the temporomandibular joint) that grow by proliferation of prechondrocytes and differ in their pattern of growth, the role of BMPs is largely unexplored. To examine this question, we ablated Bmpr1a in the condylar cartilage of neonatal mice and assessed the consequences for mandibular condyle growth and organization at intervals over the ensuing 4 weeks. Bmpr1a deficiency caused significant chondrodysplasia and almost eliminated the chondrocytic phenotype in the TMJ. Expression of Sox9, collagen II, proteoglycan were all greatly reduced, and cell proliferation as detected by BrdU was almost non-existent in the knockout mice. Primary bone spongiosa formation was also disturbed and was accompanied by reduced Osterix expression. These findings strongly suggest that Bmpr1a is critical for the development and growth of the mandibular condyle via its effect on proliferation of prechondroblasts and chondrocyte differentiation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M Baylor College of Dentistry , Dallas, TX , USA .
authors.forename: Junjun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jing
authors.forename: Robert J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Hinton
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mishina
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Xuedong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian Q
authors.initials: JQ
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I / Q000378:metabolism*; D002356:Cartilage / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D006132:Growth Plate / Q000378:metabolism; D008335:Mandibular Condyle / Q000166:cytology*; D051379:Mice; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000166:cytology*
chemical_list: C498212:Bmpr1a protein, mouse; D052005:Bone Morphogenetic Protein Receptors, Type I
keywords: Bmpr1a; condylar cartilage; endochondral ossification; mandibular condyle