title: New therapeutic targets in rare genetic skeletal diseases.
abstract: Introduction:Genetic skeletal diseases (GSDs) are a diverse and complex group of rare genetic conditions that affect the development and homeostasis of the skeleton. Although individually rare, as a group of related diseases, GSDs have an overall prevalence of at least 1 per 4,000 children. There are currently very few specific therapeutic interventions to prevent, halt or modify skeletal disease progression and therefore the generation of new and effective treatments requires novel and innovative research that can identify tractable therapeutic targets and biomarkers of these diseases.Areas covered:Remarkable progress has been made in identifying the genetic basis of the majority of GSDs and in developing relevant model systems that have delivered new knowledge on disease mechanisms and are now starting to identify novel therapeutic targets. This review will provide an overview of disease mechanisms that are shared amongst groups of different GSDs and describe potential therapeutic approaches that are under investigation.Expert opinion:The extensive clinical variability and genetic heterogeneity of GSDs renders this broad group of rare diseases a bench to bedside challenge. However, the evolving hypothesis that clinically different diseases might share common disease mechanisms is a powerful concept that will generate critical mass for the identification and validation of novel therapeutic targets and biomarkers.
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, Institute of Genetic Medicine, International Centre for Life , Central Parkway, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Briggs
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, Institute of Genetic Medicine, International Centre for Life , Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK.
authors.forename: Peter A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bell
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, Institute of Genetic Medicine, International Centre for Life , Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK.
authors.forename: Michael J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.affiliation: Newcastle University, Institute of Genetic Medicine, International Centre for Life , Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 3BZ, UK.
authors.forename: Katarzyna A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Pirog
keywords: achondroplasia; cartilage; cell signalling; endoplasmic reticulum stress; genetic skeletal disease; multiple epiphyseal dysplasia; pseudoachondroplasia; skeletal dysplasia