The Key Role of Canonical Wnt/β-catenin Signaling in Cartilage Chondrocytes

Abstract

Articular cartilage is a physiologically non-self-renewing avascular tissue with a unique cell type, the chondrocyte, which functions as producing and maintaining the extracellular matrix of cartilage. Cartilage differentiation and maintenance of homeostasis are finely tuned by a complex network of signaling molecules. The network sheds light on these mechanisms that appear to be highly relevant to both the identification of pathogenic key factors, and the development of biological approaches for cartilage regeneration. Wnt/β-catenin signaling has been recognized as a key regulator of development and homeostasis in bone, cartilage, and joint. It plays important roles in many biological processes, including the condensation and differentiation of mesenchymal cells, the maintenance of mature articular cartilage phenotype, the hypertrophic maturation in the process of endochondral ossification, and tissue degeneration and regeneration. With regard to the importance of Wnt signaling pathways in regulating chondrocytes physiological and pathological activities, this article reviews the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in chondrogenesis, chondrocytes development, degeneration, and the inhibitors of Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

Effect of CD44 on differentiation of human amniotic mesenchymal stem cells into chondrocytes via Smad and ERK signaling pathways

“…cd44 is a downstream target gene of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which has been previously reported to be an important signaling pathway, implicated in the chondro-induction differentiation (42,43). MaPK family transduction involves a multistep kinase cascade; erK is a major kinase among MaPKs and has been shown to serve a critical role in mediating chondrogenesis and associated gene expression (29).…”

Transcriptome analysis of Xenopus orofacial tissues deficient in retinoic acid receptor function

“…This is consistent with previous work Xenopus that demonstrated that overexpression of Wnt inhibitors frzb-1 , crescent and dkk similarly resulted in a larger mouths but narrower faces [ 65 ]. Together, work in various vertebrate models indicate that Wnt/beta-catenin inhibitors define the region that will form the embryonic mouth while Wnt/beta-catenin signals are required in the surrounding facial prominences to maintain proliferative regions and direct jaw cartilage development [ 66 – 70 ]. Thus, disruption of the balance of WNT activation and inhibition can alter the relative facial dimensions in the developing embryo [ 71 ].…”

Exosomes from adipose‑derived stem cells promote chondrogenesis and suppress inflammation by upregulating miR‑145 and miR‑221

“…adScs have been demonstrated to differentiate into multiple different cell types, including adipocytes, osteoblasts, chondrocytes and myocytes, in specific inductive conditions (15). due to the multipotent nature of adScs, researchers and clinicians have been exploring their therapeutic potential in various joint disorders, including oa (16). another advantage of adScs is the avoidance of rejection.…”

“…in the bones, exosomes regulate multiple signaling processes involved in the differentiation of osteocytes and bone architecture maintenance in a paracrine manner (6). For instance, exosomes were detected in the bone microenvironment, where they modulated intracellular or intercellular signaling, by targeting the same cells, adjacent cells or distant organs (16). exosomes have been considered to be an important component in the delivery of chondrogenic signaling factors for bone regeneration (19).…”