Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
5
pubmed:dateCreated
2009-11-2
pubmed:abstractText
Wnt/beta-catenin signaling is required for skeletal development and organization and for function of the growth plate and articular cartilage. To further clarify these roles and their possible pathophysiological importance, we created a new transgenic mouse model in which Wnt/beta-catenin signaling can be activated in cartilage for specific periods of time. These transgenic mice expressed a constitutive active form of beta-catenin fused to a modified estrogen receptor ligand-binding domain under the control of cartilage-specific collagen 11alpha2 promoter/enhancer. Transient Wnt/beta-catenin signaling activation in young adult mice by tamoxifen injections induced growth retardation and severe deformities in knee joints. Tibial and femoral growth plates displayed an excessive number of apoptotic cells and eventually underwent abnormal regression. Articular cartilage exhibited an initial acute loss of proteoglycan matrix that was followed by increases in thickness, cell density, and cell proliferation. In reciprocal studies, we found that conditional ablation of beta-catenin in postnatal mice using a Col2-CreER strategy led to hypocellularity in articular cartilage, growth plate disorganization, and a severe reduction in bone volume. Together, these data provide evidence that Wnt/beta-catenin signaling has important and distinct roles in growth plate and articular cartilage and that postnatal dysregulation of this signaling pathway causes diverse structural and functional changes in the two cartilaginous structures.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
AIM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Nov
pubmed:issn
1525-2191
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Electronic
pubmed:volume
175
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
1993-2003
pubmed:dateRevised
2010-11-2
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2009
pubmed:articleTitle
Transient activation of Wnt/{beta}-catenin signaling induces abnormal growth plate closure and articular cartilage thickening in postnatal mice.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural