title: Regulation of bone metabolism by Wnt signals.
abstract: Wnt ligands play a central role in the development and homeostasis of various organs through β-catenin-dependent and -independent signalling. The crucial roles of Wnt/β-catenin signals in bone mass have been established by a large number of studies since the discovery of a causal link between mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (Lrp5) gene and alternations in human bone mass. The activation of Wnt/β-catenin signalling induces the expression of osterix, a transcription factor, which promotes osteoblast differentiation. Furthermore, this signalling induces the expression of osteoprotegerin, an osteoclast inhibitory factor in osteoblast-lineage cells to prevent bone resorption. Recent studies have also shown that Wnt5a, a typical non-canonical Wnt ligand, enhanced osteoclast formation. In contrast, Wnt16 inhibited osteoclast formation through β-catenin-independent signalling. In this review, we discussed the current understanding of the Wnt signalling molecules involved in bone formation and resorption.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Oral Science and ykoba@po.mdu.ac.jp.
authors.forename: Yasuhiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Matsumoto Dental University, 1780 Gohara Hiro-Oka, Shiojiri, Nagano 399-0781, Japan.
authors.forename: Shunsuke
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Uehara
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Matsumoto Dental University, 1780 Gohara Hiro-Oka, Shiojiri, Nagano 399-0781, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Udagawa
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Matsumoto Dental University, 1780 Gohara Hiro-Oka, Shiojiri, Nagano 399-0781, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoyuki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001862:Bone Resorption / Q000378:metabolism*; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051379:Mice; D009154:Mutation; D010006:Osteoblasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010010:Osteoclasts / Q000378:metabolism; D010012:Osteogenesis / Q000502:physiology*; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000378:metabolism; D021381:Protein Transport; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000378:metabolism; D051153:Wnt Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D060449:Wnt Signaling Pathway / Q000502:physiology*; D051176:beta Catenin / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D060492:Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Related Protein-5; D053244:Osteoprotegerin; C506030:TNFRSF11B protein, human; D014157:Transcription Factors; D051153:Wnt Proteins; D051176:beta Catenin
keywords: Wnt5a; Wntless; bone; osteoblast; osteoclast