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Culture of Murine Embryonic Metatarsals: A Physiological Model of Endochondral Ossification
Published on: December 3, 2016
Indian hedgehog couples chondrogenesis to osteogenesis in endochondral bone development
U I Chung1, E Schipani, A P McMahon
1Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, 50 Blossom St., Boston, Massachusetts 02114, USA.
The Journal of Clinical Investigation
|February 13, 2001
Summary
Indian hedgehog (IHH) signals to the growth plate, controlling where chondrocytes hypertrophy and bone collar forms. This research reveals IHH
Area of Science:
- Skeletal Biology
- Developmental Biology
- Cell Signaling
Background:
- Vertebrate skeletogenesis involves chondrogenesis and osteogenesis coordination.
- Hypertrophic chondrocytes in the growth plate are key to this transition.
- Parathyroid hormone-related peptide (PTHrP) regulates chondrocyte hypertrophy site.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of Indian hedgehog (IHH) in regulating hypertrophic differentiation and bone collar formation.
- To elucidate the signaling pathways coupling chondrogenesis to osteogenesis.
Main Methods:
- Utilized PTH/PTHrP receptor(-/-)/wild-type (PPR(-/-)/wild-type) chimeric mice.
- Compared IHH(-/-);PPR(-/-)/wild-type and IHH(-/-)/wild-type chimeric mice models.
- Conducted in vivo studies to observe skeletal development.
Main Results:
- Indian hedgehog (IHH), produced by hypertrophic chondrocytes, regulates hypertrophic differentiation site.
- IHH signals to the periarticular growth plate, influencing hypertrophy.
- IHH also determines bone collar formation site in the adjacent perichondrium.
Conclusions:
- IHH acts as a crucial local signal from chondrocytes to chondrocytes and preosteoblasts.
- IHH effectively couples chondrogenesis to osteogenesis in endochondral bone development.
- This study provides in vivo evidence for IHH's pivotal role in skeletogenesis.
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